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Vol. XXXIU No. 2 A THRILLING PUBLICATION June. 1948
A Comp/ete Nove/
THE TRANS-GALACTIC TWINS
By CEORCE 0. SMITH
On the eve oi making the first spatial trip
aboard the Star Lady, Barry Williams
Snds himself inhabiting another man's
body on a strange and unknown planet! 9
Three Complete Novelets
CONSULATE William Tenn 56
The Martiaoa send ea expedition to Earth to collect ^ecitnens — and
they pick up Paul Garland, storekeeper, and his buddy Fatty MyersI
AND THE MOON BE STILL AS BRIGHT Ray Bradbury 78
When JeB Spertder stalks the bills and woods oi Mars with his com-'
patriots from Earth, be faces tbe fate oi an idealist gone berserkf
A.'1£&P OF HIS TIME Ray Cummings 92
Thome, the radioactive men, seels his own doom when he makes
a valiant effort to save the world irom fearsome disaster!
SAorf Stories
WAY Of ESCAPE William F. Temple 46
Stafford seeks surcease from worldly cares fa another Universe
THE METAL LARK Margaret St. Clair 71
Oona, womaa oi tbe future, decides to have tbe voice oi a concert siagei
THE KNOWLEDGE MACHINE Edmond Hamilton 109
Pete Purdy and fames Carter try an electrical shortcut to learaiag
SPACE-CAN Murray Leinster 117
A routine visit to Ganymede discloses a deadly Martian secret
Features
THE READER SPEAKS The Editor 6
SCIENCE FICTION BOOK REVIEW A Departmer»t 144
Cover Painting by Earle Bergey — Illustrating 'The Trans-Calactic Twins"
diamclcra in stBilee nd semi-iletlcn a. . .
or exietina toirttmtlon Is utail. It Is a co tnclde neo-
Rdbacriptinn (19 tSftM>c).
PROrrSD IN THE U. 8. A.
The Mysterious
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Wliac is it that ranset your heart to beat,
your luo« to expand and contract? What mind
direastMct/is otyourbdng, each in ibeiipui*
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hairPWhar amimusntu pervades these vibra*
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A DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE FICTION FANS
I NCnEASlNQ worry if being more and
more often publicly expresaed by our
leading Intellect!, especially In educa-
tlonal and general aclence Belda, over the in-
ability of even the most mentally favored
among modern men and women to profit by
the rapidly-growing sum of human knowl-
edge.
Since auch public wurjicif biclude Dr. Karl
Compton. Preiident Conant of Harvard Uni-
versity and Dr. Vannever Buach of the
nuclear physics field, to name but a few, It
asems to ua that the catiae of their alarm
commands respect.
Not even the niost arrogant of humsma,
confronted by the vast unexplored areas that
lie ahead in virtually every field of art and
ncienoe, can honestly lay claim to belief that
mankind has mors than faintly scratched the
outer frontiers nf learning. But even so slight
an achievement has piled up such a dizzy
tower of techniques, theories and needed
records that it threatens to axiow under the
ablest of scholars.
Man, in a word, is threatened with becom-
ing mentally land poor. Like the farmer in
such sorry case he has the land — the achieve-
ments of his predecessors and contemporaries
end their records of same — btit to farm it
profitably la beyond his resources.
Progress and Specialization
Just how serious this situation may be
can be understood by a brief summary of
what progress Is. Progress is the abJity of
man to move ever forward toward further
achievement by utilizing the gains of bis
forebears, If be has to spend his entire life
learning what these gains amount to. he isn’t
going to progress very far.
The result, in this instance, it stslenukts
and ultimate stagnation.
One answer to this grovrlng menace is, of
course, ^ecializatlon. Because it Is the
almpleet <Urcct reply it Is the method which
has, to date, been moot commonly used. In
essence the idea bdrlnd specialization Is
simple — since the colossus of research has
become eo overpowering, let each man study
exclusively in the field to which his talents
best direct him.
Let him be a dental anee^etlst, a molecular
phyaieist, an expert upon how wheat can be
shot from guns or a geopolitlolst eKcluaivoly.
He can then progress in his chosen line as his
fellows must progress in theirs. Thus, slnoe
progress Is being made In all fields of scLenea,
progress as a whole is being made.
'Taln’t so, honey, 'tain't so. It’s like Aesop's
old fable about the mice who decided. In view
of recent feline depredations upon their
population curve, to put a bell on the cat
That made sense, too — ^but no mouse could be
found possessing the ability to hang the bell
on kilty.
To ensure any reel progress, some persons
or agencies must be possessed of sufficient
general at well as qiecialized knowledge to
coordinate new achievements and techniques
in the various fietda. The psychiatrist, for
instance, studying man from the inside out
must meet the psychologist studying him
from the outside in or the two might wcU
pass each other like a pair of upper-bracket
Abbot and Costellos. And both should know
much of what the purely physical neurologist
and pathologist are doing.
And this is only a tiny segment of one field
of current scientific study. Tbe same require-
ments must be met in all fields and then —
ever more complex — in attaining the proper
relationships between new studies in all the
sciences. The student of cosmology, for
example, working out of general astronomy.,
might stumble across a vibration from outer
^»ce which would affect all study of living
tfaincs.
A Difficult Question
No, specialization, unregulated and un-
coordinated with other fields, is not the an-
swer. In fact, it's a tough question.
If a modern-day Leonardo da Vinci or Ben
Franklin were forced tn spend fifteen, or
twenty years digging into books to learn the
whys aiid wherefores of what they arc try-
ing to solve, it .seems highly probable that
even this most versatile pair of western intel-
lects might have been sharply curtailed in
their achievements. They could hardly have
spanned so many fields.
However, a number of our most thougbthil
and highly trained citizens are currently
working day and night upon what may be die
most serious obstacle currently in the way
of human achievement. Dr. Busdi. not long
ago, writing for the Atlantic Idunthly, pro-
posed a number of remedies.
In gist, however, his demands were for a
weeding out of Uie A'asl welter of research, a
reduction of libraries to microfilm size for
easy access — in short, a sort of digest of the
whole afiair. However, as he himself points
out, there is no ensuring that some tremen-
dous discovery, unimportant by current
levels of progress, might not he unalterably
lost
Ruefully he cites the burial of the aD-
important Meedelian laws of genetics and
heredity for almost half a century. At the
time Dr. Mendel made and wrote of his
famous experiments, the rest of science was
not advanced enough to accept them. Result
— disappearance until an almost entirely
fortuitous rediscovery, decades after their
principles, had been set down.
What may seem trivial or irrelevant today
may be the law of hfe tomorrow.
Furthermore, the student under this system
lb faced with the old belliiig-the-cat problem.
Somebody has to do the weeding out and that
somebody, must be human and pixme to error.
Background for Achievement
At St. John's in Annapolis. Dr. Stringfellow
Barr, the president, conducted an interesting
experiment in an effort to provide a sound
general background for achievement in die
arts and sciences. With the aid of other
f Continued on pagt 124)
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7
THE
TRANS-GALACTIC TWINS
On the eve af making the first spatial trip aboard the
Star Lady, Barry Williams finds himself inhabiting
another man's body on a strange and unknown planet!
An Amazing Novel by GEORGE O. SMITH
CHAPTER I
Broktn Powct Line
r | ARRV WILLIAMS nncrecl from
^ tho YMCA entraiice. his head still
" damp from his swim in the pool
Outside, the heat of the August afteimwii
was like the torrid waves of heat from a fur-
nace. The stagnant air was sogev and the
sun still glared upon the street into shimmer-
ing waves, making the sidewalk hum the
soles of the feet riglit thmugh the sole# of the
shoes.
One of the loungers on the YMCA steps
looked up and nodded, “Hot, ain't it?” he
.said.
THBILUNG WONDER STORIES
Willianw nodd*d. "Hotter than," he &n-
Bwered grimly. ^‘Almost better to be at
work."
The other man ^reed. "At least, at work
you can get your mind off of it,” he added
Barry’s cheer faded. "We’ve still got that
probloiL"
"Not finished yet?”
"Nope,” said Barry. "The Sfar Lady
stands there, sort of champing at the bit to
take off into interstellar space — Init there’s
no one to put on the bridle.”
"Better keep her there,” said the other
roan. "No sense in taking off if you are el-
most certain to burn up in space.”
"Well lick it.” said Barry. "Some day.
I hope it is within my lifetime. I’m slated
to go. you know.”
“~I don’t know whether you’re lucky or
not,” said the lounger on the steps. It’s
mostly a matter of opinion, I guess. Your
meat, Barry, is mv poison.” At which the
lounger’s eye^ caught sight of a pleasant girl
in a printed silk. She kept his attention for
moments.
“Nice,” he said a.s she passed out of aight.
Barry nodded.
Tlie lounger looked up in aatonishineut.
"Yet you’d leave gala such as she?” ha said.
"Barry, are you aura you want to go off into
space for a couple of years ?”
Barry lifted one eyebrow, looking back at
—the now empty comer as though the comer
btd been somehow altered by her passage
near to it.
“Uh-huh,” he said absently.
^ LOWLY Barry left the YMCA and
contituierl on down the street. The
lounger on the steps turned to a half-dosing
commmion and said :
“Old Books begins to sound human,”
His uMitpanioM stirred. '“Tlicy all fall
sooner or later,” he said laconically.
“I wonder what’s the matter with him.”
“Look, sport, there’s men and there's men.
Barry never really fjnt interested in women.
You are. Ergo, neither of you see eye to eye
oti the subject. I predict titat eventually
you’ll both end up married, reasonably hap-
py, and raise families,”
“Morbid tljoi^ht”
“Weil, you have too many irons in the fire
to settle to one, and Barry lias too few to
know. Rut don't tliink iliat because he
doesn't go overboard at the rustle of a skirt
that he might not have what ft take*."
They both looked down the street at the
retreaung figure.
Barry was walking «Hth a long stride, his
mind working on the problem of keeping the
atomic engines from consuming themeelves
once they reached the critical level of output.
That danger point was only a twelve percent
or so above tne otitput required to drive the
Star Lady into interstellar space at a valodqr
that made such travel practical.
A cluster of ntotor vehicles awaited the
change of the light A street car was poised
at the intersection, and a traffic cop stood on
the curb, watching the crou traffic.
Barry came up to the curb and stopped.
He decided then to cross with existing traf-
fic and made the change in his course. It put
him outside of the lane of walkers, all alone
on the point of the curb. He stepped into
the strek, and at that instant he caught the
eye of a passing motorist.
'The man’s face was starting to register
fear. His mouth was opening to shout. The
car was starting to go out of control. The
□wn’s eyes were staring fixedly above Bar-
ry’s head, with bulging, terrified ^es. This
registered on Barry’s mind in the caniera-
slmtter instant of an eye swing.
Barry’s’ head continued on around and his
glance fell on the face of n girl in the street
car. Her hand was approaching her throat
and her chest was raising in a tremulous in-
take of breath. Tear distorted her perfect
lips and had whitened her face under the
make-up.
Not many steps away, the traffic policeman
was turning toward fiarry. the in.stinct to
protect a atUen coming to the fore. His
mouth was opening, too. and Barry noted
swiftly that in another instant there would
be a volley of shouts. As Barry’s head con-
tinued to turn, he saw that MI eyes were
staring fixedly at some spot above hit head.
He looked up and saw a dangling fiigh-
tension wire swinring down from a freeb
break, the free end heading for tlie top of
his still-damp head.
Terror came.
And Barrj-'s muscles lought against the
inertia of his mass to get him into motion.
In maddening slow-motion, he started to
move away, but it was not enough.
Down upon his cheek fell the ribbon of
copper wire. It was slightly freenish-htaok
from the corrosion of rain and smoke, ha
saw, excepting the broken end, which was a
Tr«twl,, a*irv Wailjm*
12 THRILLING WONDER STORIES
coj)per-frosled area of crystallization. It
bncied.
Awareness came, a basic, unsatisfying
awareness of time and space only. Time, in
eon.s, and space in untliinkaMe infinities.
Universes passed and they were swirling gal-
axies. a not of moving color because his
time sense was racing madly.
Then awareness oi self came, aiicl a won-
der of how and wliy,
H e sat «p, feeling the luxury of a soft
bed and knew ttet he had been taken
care of.
"He's coming around." said a voice. It
was a throaty voice that stirred an inner
puUe with a vital urge to awaken swiftly, to
break the bonds of this illness, to recover
his youth and his virilty. I ic did not recog-
nize the urge, but he followed it.
"What happened?" he asked Shaking his
head he cleared his mind and to show his
true grasp of the situation he added: “I
mean aftcethc car-line feeder landed?”
"Car-line feeder?" asked the throaty voice.
'‘Delirious," said a pleasant male voice.
'T am not in dcliriimi," state Barry flatly.
“Hallucinations?" asked the throaty voke.
Barry turned and looked at the young
woman who sat upon the side of the bed
holding his hand.
“Do 1 sound delirious?” he demanded.
She smiled. It was a bright smile that
illuminated the room according to Barry's
idea. She was small and dark, with laughing
eyes and a wide, good-natured mouth. She
sat on tlic edge of uie bed with easy familiar-
ity, swinging one shapely leg that just missed
the floor from the high hospital bed. On the
other tide stood the doctor, an elderly man
with a face that showed the wisdom of long
yea^.^ of experience.
The girl answered him: "It is hard to
tell." She lauglied.
"Vella means that you often sound less
lucid when completely in possession of your
wits.”
"You’re Vella?" asked Barry. "Vella
who?"
She looked at the doctor. The medical
man blinked as though this defied his prt^-
nosts completely.
"You speak with luckli^," said the doctor.
“You ask intelligent enough questions
though about an event of which we know
nothing— even of its meaning — and demand
whether we think you in delirium. We are
about to -ny %se think you cured, and then
>■011 profe" ’"-junce of Vella."
I know Vella?" demanded
Barry. 'Tvp n ever seen her before." He
locflced at ^>ly and tlten with an inner
boldnT". 1 r .ueewd the hand and said:
“An egregio' error that I shall rectify."
"Are you ' - ‘ing m?" asked Vella, plead-
ingly. She rrtMoed the squeeze, which made
Barry's wiInc a beat. ■■Jnhntha, .are you
having fun at viur expense? Please, this is
no time to pby. You've been through enough
already."
"WTiat did I. : rail me?" he asked.
“Wha- " e started to cchck
"/ohntha," '"'I <5>e doctor.
“Are you sure you hare the right party?”
asked Barry-. "I'm not this Johntha. I'm —
I'm — "
Barry stopped aghast. He knew his lutme.
He knew it well. It was on the tip of his
tongue, but it stalled.
Because the name was meaningless !
CHAPTER II
f/ew Enviromrient
R EALIZATION of a great and drastic
change dawned suddenly upon Barry
Williams. The discovery uumlied him. '
friglitened him. It was some time before he
could force his stiff lips to speak.
"Where am I ?” he demanded. j
“Johntha — If you are not Johntha. then
who are you?”
"I know-, but the words have no proper
syllables," said Barry hoi>elessly. “My
tongue will not form them. It is as though
the words were never uttered l«fore." .>
“Partial amnesia." said the doctor. “With -
a willingness to face it. That helps, Vella.
Perhaps we can complete the cure right
now.”
“Cure of what?"
“You were a victim of neurophasia. Com-
plete loss of capabilit)-. You've been here
for a l(Mtg. long dme, Johntha. So long I
dare not mention any real terms. Vdla
came daily, hopii^ to help. Miraculously,
you seem partially cured."
Vella put her free lund 011 Barry's shoul-
der. "Johntha, help us? We can cure you. <
THE TBANS-GALACTtC TWINS
13
But not without your help."
“Vella, maybe I am suffering from a long-
term mental illnes*. I— would hate to try
and determine the truth of life, whether I
am awake or dreaming at any instant. I don’t
recall you, ever. I'm sorry that I do not. if
I ehoiild.” He smiled “1 shall try to correct
that, and make up for the error with all my
heart. 1 do not recall you. Doctor."
The doctor smiled. “! am Kendon.”
"Doctor Kendon?”
The other man nodded strangely.
. "Now, to complete the record.’’ said Bar-
ry, "who am I, where am T, and what hap-
pened?"
"You are Johntha. You’ve been working
on a method of sub-etheric communications.
You are, of course, on your home planet.
While working, you became stricken and
they brought you here where you've received
the best of care because interplanetary com-
munications are still suffering under the limi-
tations of the speed of light, and you probably
know more about the subject than any other
physicist on Trenda — or in the whole system,
for that matter.”
"Trenda?” echoed Barry hollowly.
"Where’e — where’s — " But the word
“Earth," like the words “Barry Williams"
refused to be formed by his lips.
“Jofintha, what happened to you?”
"I was struck on the forehead W a falling
high-tension wire," said Barry. “6ne of the
car line feeders. It came down and hit me.
That's all I remember before 1 awoke here.
Previously, I’d been working on a means of
keeping tiie atomic engines from eating tbem-
•elves up. The Star Lady is about ready,
save for one factor, you know."
“Interesting," murmured the doctor.
“You, of course, recall details of this inter-
stellar ship?”
"Certainly,'’ said Barry, and went on to
describe it roughly.
"A complete h^ucination, with a huite-
ii«M of detail and almost perfevl raticmaliza-
ikvn. Ymi’d almost think the thing would
work."
"It will and does," stated Barry. “We
made test-flights in it."
The doctor shook his head.
"Look. Dr. Kendon, the newspapers have
been following tliis thitig for years. They’ve
even mentioned ray name — " and again that
blankness came, shat refusal to ^rm the
prowr syllables. “You read papers?”
“Yes, but nothing of this nature has ever
Iwen mentioned. By the same token, Jobn-
Iha, you claim you do not recall me?"
"Not at all."
“Nothing of the front-page articles on my
classic spinal operation on Anthrec?"
"Who is Anthrec?’’
"Complete amnesia." said the doctor.
“Doesn’t remember Anthrce cither.”
B arry pressed his forehead. “All these
names are strange. They are as unac-
customed to my mind as my own name is
unaccustomed to my lips. But wait — I tnight
form the syllables. I’m — Baris — Varry is
about as close as I can come to the first name.
The second name is Wiayoms, Welloms.
Walyahms. Make h Varri Wallyainze. I
think.”
"A strange name.” said the doctor. "Com-
pletelv alien."
"You like it?" asked Barry of the girl.
“It is interesting,” she said. "So long, and
complex."
"Simple, I’ve called it."
"Not as simple as Vella," she said.
"Not at all,” he said. “But tlioi^h the
name comes easy to my lips, it is alien to my
mind.”
Then he blushed and looked up into her
eyea. He said uncertainly, "How am I re-
lated to you?”
"Why, I’m yoiir sister I’**
"Oh.” said Barry, and he felt crestfallen
“But I have no sister.” —
"Haven't you?” she asked.
"Not that I’ve ever known.”
The doctor grunted unhappily. "I think
this has been enough,” he said with finajtty.
“We'll return tomorrow morning. Vella,
you come along. I want to talk with you.”
Vella nodded, and then leaned fon.vard
and gave Barry a sisterly kiss that was quite
unsanifying to the young man.
"We'll he back,” the promised.
Barry looked around the room in a puzzled
fashion. ‘T'll be here," he said with humor.
“And H I’m not. I’ll be back. You see. Vella,
I have no sister I”
Valla laughed, and then became nervoua
at live intense look on Barry's face. She was
a little glad to leave. After they went, Barry
thought for a long time. There was obviously
something completely wrong here and he
was not yet certain what it was. He b^an
to doubt himself.
After all, he had to accept the medical
atatemcat that he bad been ill. Perhaps all
THRILUNO WOKDER STORIES
that work on the Slar Lady had been a
dream of amnesia. Maybe his name rratly
was Johniha, and the all of his life for the
past twenty-seven years was a false belief,
painstakingly built up over a period of years,
complete with false memory supplied by a
mind that was hiding from the truth.
That was entirely possible, for he had
heard of such cases. Amnesia and such men-
tal Ills were actually what happened witen
the mind went into hiding from an unpleas-
ant future.
Barry wondered why. Even to— to the
building of a completely new personality.
He'd never felt the twinge of heart over a
woman before, hut he was feeling slightly
warm inside from the thought of Vella.
But he that a« it might be, there was still
something wrong. More than merely his
"amnesia.” That might be mind-hiding, but
lliere was much more that Ik did not grasp.
If his previous life were a m)dh, then Elarth
was non-existent. So was the iVar Lady and
the YMCA and the hope of interstcllaf trav-
el. And instead of trying to reach the stars,
he 1md been trying to communicate between
the several inhaWted planets by subradio.
Did he know anything about sub-etberic
wave propagation?
He found the answer slowly, haltingly. It
was like the slow memory that came from
re-reading a book that had once been read
and almost completely forgotten. He had
-.ia-Tfach every point, and yet was prepared
foi the next point brforc he came to it, yet
he did not recall the entire problem as a
whole.
Yes. he knew about sub-etlKric wave
projK^afion. The force fields and the barrier
potentials and the wave mechanics all came
to him one after the other.
H e sat up in lied with a quick cry,
only to lie down again unhappily. For
the force fields and the barrier potentials
woiJd Ik the proper answer to the problem
of keeping the atomic engines from burning
themsdves out! Bui— iIk Slar Lady was
only a dream.
Or. his mind asked shrewdly. Was this
the myth ?
WWch was which?
His brain whirled. If thi.s were myth,
Vella was not real, and he felt a long-term
attraction for the girl. He did not want to
lose her. If Earth and all were but myth,
then he himself was Johntha and Vella's
brother and ihe long-ierm attraction merely
a brother-sister relationship and could M
nothing more. He recognised both lives,
now. And if he never returned to that Other
Life on Earth, he'd ponder the weight of his
own mind.
The problem came more clearly. How
could he be sure?
Xight ouiK. bringing a double moon,
which be seemed to recoraiee. And when
the stars emerged, he caned them off into
constellations which were nothing like the
constellations be knew from his — well, was
it really a myth-life?
Then he grinned. Barry Williams or
i olmtha, and whichever life he entered from
ere on in. be htmed he'd remember the de-
tails of the Star Lady in one life or the lub-
etherk wave mechanics in the other one.
TTiey’d be mumally interesting. And sup-
posing both lives were myth, somewhere the
stuff should come in handy.
He drifted off to sleep and he dreamed of
a vacant place, filled with whirling vortices
of intangible forces that did nothing but
whirl and whirl and whirl.
CHAPTER III
Sseond Inftrchanfft
V OICES awakened him. Johntha opened
his eyes slightly, and peered from be-
neath half-lower^ lids. A white clad doc-
tor and another man were standing beside
the bed.
"Electricity does perform freaks," ad-
mitted the doctor, looking down at Barry
Williams' quiet body. "VVhy he isn't dead
I'll never know.”
“He's coming out of it, Dc. Edwards?”
asked the other mtn.
"Yes. He'll be alt right in a few hours.
Who did you say you were?”
"Tim £v-ans. Msh, I was sitting on the
Yh^CA steps talking to him just a minute
before."
"I think perhaps your swift action may
have helped. You didn't waste any time."
Jim Evans smiled in an abashed manner.
"I was once a Boy Scout.” he suggested
helpfully.
"A first-class tme,” said the doctor suo-
cirKtly. "No one but a good man would have
TCie TSANS-OALACnC TmNS
known wliat to lIo.”
"Look, he's stirring.”
The dortor filled a hypndenntc and drilled
Barry’s arm with the needle. ‘'That'll help.”
he said, stepping back to watch the awaken-
ing.
Awake?” lumiered the man on the bed.
"Am 1 awake?”
"Certainly." smiled Doctor Edwards.
"And you can thank your friend Evans for
it, too. '
"Evans? Dti 1 know an Evans?”
“Not too well.” admitted Jim. "But well
enough tu talk to.”
"Um. What did he do? I've always been
told thut neiirophasia was incurable.”
"Not familiar with that cine.” said the
puzzled doctor, discotinting it as a warped
pronoiinciation due tn medical ignorance on
the part of the untrained patient. "You did
have a bit of luck, though. You gut tapped
on the bead with a fivc-hundrea-and-nfty-
volt ear-line trolley feeder.''
"A what?”
“A car-line feeder. They mn heavy cables
alongside of most trolley lines to supply the
trolley wire itself, you know. One of tltem
dropped oil your head. Should have electro-
cuted you. In.stead, it merely stunned you."
"I'm not certain of the meaninp of ‘car-
line,’ ” said the invalid. "You say it stunned
me? Berhaps it cured me.”
"Of what ?'■
"Some time ago I fell ill with neiirophasia
and fought against it right to the point where
I went under. Instead of dying, I now feel
much better— ^ilmnst cnnipWely cured, Td
say.”
Mind telling me what you were doing all
this time?” asked the doctor.
"Why. I've been working on a means of
iirterpUnctary coniiiiunication on the sub-
etheric level. ’
The doctor looked at Jim Evans. Jim
shrugged, "rvc heard of such. But mostly
its strictly double-talk, when applied to any-
thing practical. There have been a few high-
ly controversial papers presented before the
Terran Physical Scaicty on tlie llieoiy and
so-forth of such. It’s like mental telepathy
right now. No one has been able to prove it
exists to the satisfaction of every one, but
no one feels firm enough to stand up and say
it does not exist because 'No. no,' Iws all too
often been followed immediately by someone
then demonstrating the idea in practise. Me,
I’m an electronics engineer and I'd like to
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
know more about such."
"I can imagine ! " said the doctor. "Barry,
can you give any details oo this sub-etheric
stuff?"
“I think so," said Johntha, and gave a
rather sketchy picture of the complete sub-
etheric wave mechanics.
D octor EDWARDS looked at Jim
Evans helplessly. “I’m a physician,
not an engineer. It does sound jdausible.”
“It is either strangely plausible or someone
has gone to a lot m trouble to build up a
sophistic science. But it sound too pat for a
fafce.”
“I don’t know,” said the doctor, "rve
known men who were mentally avoiding
something that could build an entire false
memory to erase a terrifying period from
their minds."
Johntha looked up at Llie doctor. “You
called me — ?’’
“Barry Williams."
“I am not. I am — ah — ”
“Who?" prompted Doctor Edwards.
“Strange — strange. It as as though the
words and syllables of my name were alien.
As though, for instance, someone were ask-
ing me to pronounce a name in some tongue
that included a — raspberry — sound as a
common syllable- I rsmnot pronounce my
name, though the name of this Barry Wil-
liams comes to my mind easily and I can say
Jt . dearly. Arc you certain that you have
'the right man ?"
Jim Evans smiled. "They can’t tag me
with losing the body," he said with a grin.
“When that wire started to fall, I leaped off
trf the Y steps and headed for you. I gave
you artihei^ respiration until they called the
ambulance and ^en I rode with the boys in
back until we landed here, and I’ve had you
in my sight ever since. Period."
“You claim that you were speaking to me
and knew me before tiae accident?”
“Definitely."
“And what was the conversation?"
“nie beat, a common topic. Then we dis-
cussed ywir work, which was not on com-
municattons but «)n the atomic engines in the
Star Lady. Then we discussed women — a
usual ending among men of intelligence."
The doctor grutited something about it not
being restrict^ to any age, intellect or en-
vironment.
“I do not remember,” said Johntha with
a smile. “What was said about women?’"
"Nothing mudu You are usually too busy
tn notice them.”
“There’s a coo6icting note there, some-
where,’’ said Johntha. “I don’t believe I’ve
been like that always."
“We've been on the Star Lady project for
about four years and you've been no differ-
ent.”
“Star Loiyf"
“The interplanetary sliip."
“Never heard of it Really, now. The
possibililie* of interplanetary travel are in
about the vimc state ot the art as you've re-
cently claimed interplanetary communica-
tions to be. I know your statements are not
true.”
“And we suspect yours," said Jim Evans.
“Thou^ I’m going to look into them my-
seli’’
“I’ll show you the way.”
“Thanks.” said Jim drily. “You’ve nerer
professed anything but puzzlement over the
subject up to now. Did that elcctpcal whap
on the bean screw up a neurone or two?”
“I’m wondering. I'm wondering who am
I. Or, if what Doctor Edwards says is true,
what am I hiding fnxn.”
“I wouldn't worry,” said the doctor calm-
ly. “Electrical current docs things to tlie
mind, we know. It will clear away. Give
it time — and we’re going to give you time.
I’ll liave the nurse give you a shot that’ll let
you rest. We'll be back in the morning. Per-
has you'll be feeling less confused in the
morning and we can figure out what's going
on.”
Johntlia nodded.
O NCE outside. Doctor Edwards said to
Jim Evans: "Hallucination, The elec-
trical shock has crossed up his memory mo-
mentarily and has given him a completely
false replacement for it."
“That’s difficult, isn't it?” wondered Jim
Evans. “A complete memory?”
"Not at all. No memory is cither cuniplelc
or chronolcgical. When the mind finds it-
self rci|uircd to produce a memory in order to
prove Itself sane, it wiU produce very nicely.
Electrical shock has fouled up Barry’s mem-
ory badly. Yet his mind insists that the good,
logical memory of the man's experiences be
reproduced or shown as evidence of his
sanity. The fact that real memory was either
destroyed or — snowed under, say — for the
moment makes a logical reproduction in^s-
sible. Ergo, the insistence on this new life
n
THE TBANS GALACItC TWINS
and new theories. Such can be done with
lightning swiftness, Comes tomorrow and
the initial glimmerings of real memory will
come up through the mental threshold and
he will then mend swiftly."
Johntha heard and agreed, in part, that
what the doctor said might well be true. This
was strangely terrifying, to have your own
memories, so vivid, .«) dear, refuted by peo-
ple of certain authority.
Were he not speaking their language per-
fectly. he might suspect that he had become
another person, on some alien planet, rotating
about an unknown sun in a strange galaxy.
Or had this happened?
Johntha stopp^ thinking; for this new
line of reasoning might be a Uiie of unreason-
ing used to explain why his memory and his
life obviously did not jibe.
He hoped the doctor did not know that
be had overheard. Yet. Johntha wondered
whether the doctor had spoken loudly, know-
ing the explanation coming from the medical
man would tend to explain his menial trauma
better than his own unaided mind. If he
could recall some of the things he was sup-
posed to have been working on, he would be
convinced.
Atomic engines, burning themselves up be-
cause the critical power level was loo close
to the operating energy of tlie interstellar
drive. Yes, he recalled some of it vaguely,
falteringly, but with the solidity of founda-
tion, or building in which each new brick is a
matter of conquest and uncertainty until it is
installed, but tlien to become firm and logical.
Bit by bit and detail by detail, he built up
his atomic theory until he recalled it aU.
His memory of this work confirmed his
suspicions. Whatever he might have believed,
it must be like the too vivid dream that starts
upon the clang of a chime and builda up hadc-
wards, actually furnishing a memory of
events leading up to the ringing of the chime
and explaining it with dear logic based upon
an error.
He — must be— Barry Williams.
The thought of the alien luind-transfcr re-
turned briefly. 5u|^x)&ing that he had been
that. He spoke with the men of this planet.
Logfcally, he was using a body and a mind
really trained in thought and speech to their
ideas and customs. His ioalnlity to form,
properly, the name of his supposed entity
might be due to (he alien quality of the
sound.
More self-jusiilicalion, he thought.
A momentary question passed his mind.
Bodies I Then he laughed. If lie were alien
mind in nornul body, inspection of the latter
would show nothing. For, which was mind
and which was memory and which was
thought? Knowledge, memory, thought,
ideas, who really knew i Was knowledge and
mental sharpness a matter of the extrapola-
tion of experience ? How then could it pos-
sibly be that a mind could enter another —
brain — and recall, H the mind and the brain
were one?
Who could know ?
Johntha inspected the symbol for which he
could find no syllables, and decided that the
doctor was right. He must put a;udc any
thoughts of — of— that planet. They must be
false.
He slept, finally. It was the dreamless
sleep of a man who had made up his mind
that the moment was right, and that mnimry
was faulty, but could be corrected in the
morning, N’othing invaded his mental pri-
vacy, for Jc^ntha. accepting the name Barry
Williams, did not dream.
His final thought was pleasant, for the
idea of interstellar travel was infinitely more
interesting than mere high-speed interplane-
tary communications. He thought that he
could have both, for from the quick ecanning
of the problem of Barry Willifins, a .soluliem
of his difficulties had occurred to him.
If the harrier potentials and the force
fields he dreamed of were of any logic, he
could solve the problem of the atomic engine.
CHAPTER IV
Meeting In Sf>ace
A lthough their separation in dla-
tance might have been anything from
a few mere light years to a hundred mega-
|iarapc« and there was no way of determining
the distance, Barry Williams and Johmlia
slept aimuiianeously.
How fast is the pr<>pagationi of thought?
One can think about, really contemplate,
Sirius and his dark companion without a
wait. One may visualize in his mind the
shape and size and distance of Che Spiral
Nebula in Andromeda, inr outside of our
galaxy. Thought, therefore, must propagate
1H nmiLUNO WONDEB STORIES
at an unthinkable velocity. Projected minds
must move at this speed, for the mind is but
a focal spot for thought.
The men slept dreamlessly for many hours,
They rested both their minds and their
bodies, and when both were rested, they en-
countered, not a dream, but mental actual-
Ity.
Out of the whirling vortices of nothing
that filled Barry’s mind with a faint unrest,
there came a wisp of something he knew.
Call it coinddence, but in all the universe
of minds, these two were attuned closely
enough to meet once the unknown stimuli
had been applied. Somewhere in the deep
of space between Earth and Trenda, the
minds encountered one another and recogni-
tion came,
‘■You are Barry Williams."
‘T am. And you are Johntha.”
This was not speech. This was more than
speech. This was dual thinking with each
mind in turn drawitig the other along in
perfect track as it formed its thoughts, and
then following the other at the answering
thought-pattern demanded understanding.
"What happened?”
"I was struck hy high voltage.”
“I was a victim of neurophasia.”
"At the same time."
“We — have changed minds."
"It is very vague. Then there is an Earth,
and my memory of a long and happy life
there is not false.”
“It is no more false than my own memory
of Trenda. Tell me when you awoke —
was Vella pleased ?”
"She was. Though she and her doctor
friend were dismayed at my inability tn re-
member them.”
“You find my 'sister — attractive?”
“T Ho. You are a lucky man.”
“To have an attractive sister? Perhaps
80."
“I see your reasoning."
“Barry Williams, we may return to our
own liodies at this instant.”
"I know, and I am puzzled.”
"I am not. I do not care. If any, I would
prefer to remain upon Earth. I can study
interstellar traveling and I find that it offers
more interest than communications. Your
mind is filled with the knowledge of atomics,
and though I find trouble in recalling the
factor* of sub-etheric wave propagation, the
subject is not a complete blank. It will come
to me.”
“I find that I know much more about
that than I know about the atccnic engines,"
This was in mental complaint. “Yet unleas
I understand the sub-etheric, the atomic en-
gines will never be safe to use at interstellar
speeds.”
“Then what do you plan?”
“1 would prder to iMrn.”
"As I would."
“Yet unless we return to our own bodies,
we may never have an opportunity like this
again.”
‘T know. Yet I have no ties to bind me to
Earth.”
“Nor have I a great desire to return to
Trenda. My only great tie there is my af-
fection for 'N'ella. ITiat seems to be in good
hands.”
"That I swear — ”
"You need no protestation. I see your
mind.”
A GREAT peace welled up in Barry Wil-
liams' soul. He said: “Yet it is a
problem that I must solve. If I remain on
Trenda, I may learn the answer to the
atomic engines and sub-etherics. We, I should
have said. I — would court Valla. Where is
Trenda with re.spect to Earth?”
“Wlio can possibly tell. There are a million
million stars."
“If I return to Earth, then, what are my
chances of retaining the rudiments of the
sub-etheric level?"
"Remote. Using your mind, L know
atomics. I recall vague inklings of sub-
etherics because I was trained in that field.
The thought-pattern is like a pre-formed
mold which tends to warp into that pattern
though now conforming to the new shape;
Similarly, your atomic-trained mind is su-
perimposed upon my sub-etheric experience.
If we return, the minds will be immediately
re-molded into their intrinsic patterns .and
nothing will remain.”
“Then to achieve interstellar flight I must
remain on Trenda. where I may work as
though I were really Johntha, I may accept
only the sisterly affection of Vella,"
“You will not achieve interstellar flight.
I. as Barry Williams on Earth, will do that.
You. as Johntha on Trenda will achieve in-
terplanetary communications of conversa-
tional rapidity."
“And if I return to Earth, interstellar
flight may never be achieved?’'
^‘Correct.”
THE TRANS-GALACnC TWINS 1#
“You know what I would prefer to do?”
“Of course. You would like to return to
your own body on Terra : you would like to
•oivc interstdJar flight; you would like to
find Trends; and finally you would prefer
to meet my sister as a man who would be per-
mitted to strive for her affection.”
"Precisely."
"It is unfortunately impossible.”
“1 know. Regardless of any act I may
perform, Vella is beyond my reach. If I re-
main on Trends. I am her brother. If I re-
liirii to Kavth. we may never solve the atomic
problem in my lifetime, and moat certainly
will never find Trends when and if we do.
Since my own first desire is impossible, it
must be discarded. My second desire is to
see n>en achieve interstellar flight.' Only by
sending you back to Earth as me can that be
done. It is important. Therefore. Johntha,
return to Earth and take men to the stars !”
Johntha, the Trendan, radiated admira-
tion for him who would put aside his personal
ambition to see and do and go for the sake
of having it done perfa:tly by another. With
no more than a mental “Luck. Barry Wil-
liams, and may we meet again," the Trend-
an's mind withdrew and was gone. He had
returned to Barry Williams, atomic specialist.
With a wistful thought of what m^;ht
have heen, Barry WilHams rehirned to Tren-
da to become Johntha, an expert in com-
munications which he was not particularly
interestefi in, and a brother to Vella whom
he was definitely interested in. but which in-
terest he must de.stroy.
His withdrawal into Johntita's own mind
was simultaneous with his awakening. There
was breakfast and beside the bed-tnble sat
Vella.
“Hello," she said brightly.
“Good iiinming, Vella.”
“Feeling better?”
He nodded “I want to get to work," he
said.
“So soun?"
“ It’s been long.”
‘‘.Mjout a year or more,” she admitted.
H IS Terran memory compared the two
and made the observation that the
Trendan ^ear was slightly longer though the
daily penod was slightly shorter and there-
iorc there were considerably more days in
the Trendan year in the Terran year.
"Too long.”
"Not so very.” she said brightly. “Y'our
assistants are still studying your develop-
ments. None lias matched you. We’ve just
lost a year of development.*^'
“I know,” he said. “It is less Important
that someone surpass me in that ycai llwin
it is to know that a year of zero advaticement
has ])B8.sed. I would have preferred to know
that great progress has been made." He
smiled. “On the other hand, it is gratifying
to my ego to know tliat, despite a year's c<Hti-
plete Illness and inability, I am still top
man,"
“May 1 quote that?”
“Nope," he returned cheerfully, "That is
something for me and thee alone.”
“A state secret?”
“Very.”
"I'll tell no one,” she said with a laugh.
Then Vella sobered again and she looked
at him wonderingly. "Doctor Kendon tried
to recite your atomic theories to a couple of
specialists last evening. They were quite
puzzled, for your ideas follow a different
track than the usual. Yet they admit that
there might be something in it."
"Would you try to get me a couple of
books on atomic engines?" he asked.
“Ceruinly.” she answered quickly. “But
Johntha, is there really something to the
superspeed drive?”
''There i.s. but a few of the factors elude
me at present. I must brusli up before niy
ideas will take form,” '
“Funny.” she smiled. "You’ve never
allowed an interest in atomics Iwfore.”
"1‘in a different man,” he said.
"Oh, not so different.” she told him.
“You’re still my brother.”
That was the trouble. He finished hi«
breakfa.st heartily, to the gratification of both
Vella and the nurse who finally came to re-
move the tray. He was told that until this
morning he had lieen spoon-fed.
Doctor Kendon came after the breakfast
tray was ^one and went over Johntha's body
with a critical eye.
“Amazing.'' he said, watching the knee-
reflex. “Completely dead yesterday, and to-
day it is as alive as ever. T pronounce yon
cured," he said. “Though I'll never know
how it happened.”
"May I leave and get to work?"
The doctor nodded slowly. “You may
leave any time,” he said. "I'd suggest that
you spend a day or so resting and regaining
your atrengtl). You might |o bock to work
in a few days, though take it easy at first.”
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
2 «
Johmha looked at Vella, '■OutBidc." lie
ordered with a grin. “I’ll lee you after rm
properly dressed.”
die nodded and left
CHAPTER V
Scientific Savants
M echanically Barry’s mind i«t
Johntha's trained body insert itself
into the unfamiliar i-lothing of the Trendan.
As with the paradox of the speech, Barry
doubled at the present time whether he could
apeak any Earthly speech at all without a
haj-d struggle. The words spilled from his
Trendan mouth in tlie proper order to con-
vey the though generated in his Terran mind
and transferred to the Trendan brain.
He was, he admitted, more of Trenda than
of Earth So jnhntha’s hody was the nutlet
of Barry’s miml. and though the mind
thought in Earth language, the physical out-
put was instantly transposed into the Tren-
dan analogue.
There was an instant of foolish speculation
on the fart that Johntha’s clothing fit ao well,
but it was merely the product of his own
mind, forgetting for the instant that this was
not a case of being an impostor, a substitn-
tfen. This was the masquerade perfect, The
dothing and the life end the experiences of
Johntra were his and v'alid.
Only the sentience, the personality, the
ego, had changed and had taken with it the
necessary bits of its own experience to main-
tain its own individuality. Perhaps, he
thought, if my mind retained no memory
of past experience on Terra, I would truly
be Johntha.
The old question: “What it that which
it I?” came up to confront him, and he
smiled, fur the ancient philosophers had
propounded it and bo answer had come fr>rth
over thousands of years of deep pondering.
He gave up. for if men trained in studying
Che ego and the mind could not answer, it
was far past him.
He finished drcssring and the doctor and
he met Vella in the Mlway.
‘Tve no other ]>aUeiits to take my time.”
GcpUined the doctor. "The problem of John-
tha’s false memory is sufficient interest to
have all my other cases transferred. You are
now my only sttidy.”
Barry nodded. This was an interntting
custom on Trenda that might well be applied
on !^rth, or “Terra,” as it was sometimes
called. Ehxrtor Kendon would lose no income
by it, and the entire medical history of the
system would benefit.
'T prefer to study you under familiar
surroundings,” ^ \id the doctor. “We're go-
ing to your home. I am, unfortunately, not
an expert on atomic theory. I could not
evaluate your statements of last evening.
What little I recalled, 1 used in consulting
with Physicist Tharmaoe. who seemed puz-
zled but vejv inteiested.”
“I hope It is not too puzzling,” offered
Barry.
"So does he.” said the doctor, and then
he dropped the subject.
Once on the street. Barry’s mind let John-
tha's body lead him unerringly to the little
vehicle. He did not try to drh’e, which
seemed quilc all right bemuse Vella slipped
lieneath the wheel lieside him. Tlie doctor
climbd into the back seat and Veils started
off into traffic.
Deftly she wound the little car through
the maze of streets and other cars, often
stopping for traffic signal* and making dif-
ficult turns through conflicting streams of
otherwise-bound vehicles. The tall mres
gave way shortly to open country, and the
roads that led from the commercial cluster
of tall buildings diverged across a rolling
prairie.
Close to the building cluster, the other
roads leading from the other terminating
streets could be seen, but they fanned out
radially and soon were lost be^lind the hills
and the diManre. Tiny side-roads led from
one side or the other at considerable distance
apart. These wound in among the sma!';
rolling hill* that occasionallv showed a small
house-top.
City life ws* not known; the cities were
only collections of commercial buildings.
Residences were entirely suburban.
Then, eventually, Vella swerved off to
the left and wound along the small rustic
road pa« several dwellings to their own.
It was set in a grove of trees, a completa
little haven of itself.
I T WAS all so very familiar, and John-
tha's own key. selected unerringly from
the keyring, opened the door.
“Hungry?” sdked Valla.
He nodded.
Doctor Kcndon said; "By all means, let's
eat. I’ve invited a group which should arrive
*t any moment."
"What am I supposed to do?” asked
Johntha.
"Nothing but he yourself, and honestly.
You see, Jolmtha, there is something rather
strange— -in that it is perfectly clear — in
your ability to produce a concrete technical
science during a stage of delirium. What,
exactly, is thought? Who can answer? Per-
haps your case may solve a minute bit of
that never-ending question,"
"I’ll try.’’ said the man. Though he
Kondercd. There was not a doubt in his
own mind that if he tried to explain the full
occurrence, they would try to put him away.
A complete exchange in personality hut with
retention of memory. A bafflir^ improbabil-
ity hut none the less evident. To Iry to tell
tbcm that he was Barry’ Williams, inhabiting
the mind of their friend. Johntha, might be
hard to .swallow.
Statements to that effect following a
known mental illness would be strictly dis-
counted as hallucination. If he hadn’t met
the real Johntlia in a mental rapport during
the night and had his wonder confirmed,
would be largely convinced that Terra was
really the dream of an invalid mind.
Yet he hated to put them on the wrong
track. Deliberately to mislead them went
against hJs training in scientific accuracy.
Then his reasoning reached logic. Since
they’d not believe him if he told the truA :
instead, they'd leap to the other conclusion
anjmay, he would tell them or lead them to
believe what they wanted to believe. In tliat
way he would do little hann. and would
eventually arise out of suspicion. Once they
thought him mentally capable, he might be
able to start an interstellar project.
“Johntha spends much of his time in
rei'erie,’’ said Vella.
“I don't doubt it," the doctor said with
a smile. "It is natural. He has been through
an illness and has come out of it slight
in mental confusion. Give him time.’’
“I was merely trying to recall, to marshal
21
22
THRILLING WONDBR STORIES
facts in my mind.’’
“Excdlent," said the doctor. "I hope the
lo|^— ■■
The chime of the doorbell interrupted
Barry Williams, and Doctor Kendon went
to the door himself to admit three men. He
browht them over to Barry.
“Geiitletiien. this is Electronlcian Johntha,
Tohntha, these men are Physicist Tharmane,
Psychologist Crenda, and Atomieiaii
Homarr. We invided ^Vlathematician Mara-
dun too, but where is he?"
“He said he would be along later.” said
Homarr. "He can catch up on any notes.”
“He can.” agreed Doctor Keiulon. "How-
ever I’d has-e preferred to have him here at
the onset.”
Physicist Tharmane laughed cheerfully.
"As a mathematician, he is uninterested in
anything that cannot be set to equations. If
Johmba remembers anything of mathematical
nature, we can set them down for Maradun.
who will be just as happy at the cold paper
as with the warm man."
Crenda, the psychologist, took objection.
"You place too heavy a hand on Maradiin's
pmonality." he said. “Just because his
mind is mathematically trained is no reason
to charge him with preferring figures to
pe^le.'
This brought e laugh because both men
had been joking with one another for years.
•Then Vella returned from the kitdien with
a huge tray of light refreshments, and the
doctor introduced her all around.
"Vella." he said, hnally, "I’ve not asked
you yet. but 1 assume that you will take
notes ?”
"Of course, " she replied sincerely. "Any-
thing to help."
K endon gave her a reassuring
glance. He said, "For the record,
we’ve wMchcd Johntha carefully since be
awakenetb At the initial stage, he seemed
baffled tp names and places. It was as
though tie might have been an impostors
placed there for some unknown reason.
However, no impostor could have conducted
himself with such finality, nor would an im-
postor own Johntha’s personal set of physical
ideiitiiies. He is positively idcntifi^ as
Joluillia."
"Being of naturally suspicious nature,”
queried Crends. "has anyone considered the
possibility of tiie records being tampered
with?”
"We have. But minor items such ai
fingerprints in this house, in his own labora-
tory on all his tools, and found in his school-
day textbooks all agree. There is not the
least doubt.''
"I agiTT. Go jm."
"W« let Jofantha lead us to the car. which
he picked out unbesitatiiigly. He dressed
himself and selected tire proper clothing for
Johntha’s personalitv-. But this is wasting
valiishle thne. In the final record, Vella ana
I wilt recount the many ways in wliich wc
sought to delect fraud. Besides, there is
no motive for fraud."
The psychologist nodded, "ril take ex-
ception. hilt I won't voice it until I've seen
more of this case.”
"Our reasons for questioning the man’s
identitv were, as I've said, due to a slight
unfamSliarity with his surroundings, names,
places, and other hems. Other things of
equal question were his insistence on his
aMItty to devise atomic engines. He men-
tioned a number of alien things with ea.sy
familiarity.
"There was. for one instance, a space craft
called the Star Ladv. This was supposed to
be a superspeed ship capable of Interstellar
flight. According to Johntha, at that time,
he had been a man called "Varri Wey-
yaim*.” on a strange planet that was called
"Yearth.”
"Hia job was developing or improving
the atomic engines, which he said were
unable to produce sufficient power to reach
interstellar sjjceds without approaching Bk
overload (actor. He then attempted to prove
his false identity and produced considerable
logic of a strange basis.”
‘Td like to add that from your sketchy
description, I consulted Maradun,” sug-
gesteefThamtane. "He tried a couple of the
S nations and shook his head. They didn't
d up. or were based on wtmt he called a
false premise."
BaiT>- Williams spoke up: "AU premises
are false iinlil proven."
“Right," Homarr said, chuckling. "And
though we've been tinkering with the atom
for arout a hundred ^ears now, ev^ now
and then a new particle comes roaring out
of the mess to foul up the mathematicians.
Then they have to go all the way back to
the beginning and re-build."
Barry looked at Homarr. "You're an
atomician,’’ he said. "What do you think
of using the total annihilation energy of the
TIIE TRAN8-OALACTIC TWINS M
Alpha pardde as a means nf nnwer?”
Homarr’s eyes glowed, "'hie sun makes
alpha out of hydrogen. Total annihilation of
alpha — what a wonderful dream!”
“Dream?”
"Certaifdy. It takes a lot of energy to
nuke alplia out of liydrogM. Tremendous
Input is required to make that reaction go.
To get it mit — ^how eonid you make the re-
action self-sustaining?”
"And if you had generators powerful
enQugh to blast alpha iiUo complete energy,
what kind of etufF would you make the gen-
erator out of?”
"Force fields.”
"Oh, we've used them — the sub-etheric
level — to restrain atomic reactions. But
what kind of system could be devised? I’m
puBcled. "
B arry williams sat there cursing
his imperfect memury. Back on 'Terra
the problem had been solved without the use
of the sub-etheric levels, though it would
require much practical improvement. As
things stood, die Star Lady's engines did
work, but at a dangerously low factor of
safety.
'‘Furthermore,” added Homarr, "how
would you localize the reaction ? Alpha is a
high-energy neucleiis. and it is a standard
rule that when there are two possibilities of
reaction, tlie one with the lowest eneigy
level will go almost exclusively. What would
you contain the reaction in?”
That multiplied the problem. Tliere was
something about extended magnetic fields in
a complex pattern fliat generated sufficient
starting-energy without back-fire. Barry
Bwntioned this vaguely.
‘TiupiacLical. How do you develop fields
of such intensity? Not in any prime mover
I know of.”
The door bell rang again, and Vella
entered witli the inatbcmatician, and he was
introduced all around.
Physidk Thamiane nodded and then said:
"Homarr has been in slight argument with
Johntha. Perhaps you may be able to shed
•fjtie Heht on the validity of Johntha’s
j>remise.°’
Mathematician Maradun took several
ibeets of paper out of Vella’s notebook,
casually found a large pencil in his podtet
and then sat witli bulh the peiidl and himself
poiacd expectantly.
CHAPTER VI
AIUh HandUapi
I N AN EFFORT to aid his concentration,
Barry Williams scowled, and pressed
both hands against his forehead.
"Tlfc problem is more psychological,” said
Doctor Kcndoii. "Crenda. how possible is
It?”
"It is quite possible,” answered the
psychologist, "The subconscious mind never
sleejM. The subconscious mind is but a
master file-index; a library of facts and ex-
perience. Anything handed to the subcon-
scious mind by the conscious mind for tabu-
lation will be inspected and evaluated in
terms of the subconscious mind’s experience.
The answer will then be returned to the
conscious mind for use.
"Inaanih,” he continued, “is when the
conscious mind discovers conflicting answers,
or dislikes the answers viiaJly, or is con-
fronted with answers which. If followed, are
mutually exclusive. ”
"Meaning?’' asked Tharmane.
The psjcliologist smiled. '‘Well, it’s like
this to give a cnide example. A man is
standing oa the side of a mountain. An
Bvalandie is approaching. The man’s con-
scious mind takes in all the details. 'The sub-
conscious mind looks over the data and says r
If you remain, you will die. If you jump,
you will die. There is but one escape and
that is to fly like a bird, which is impossible.”
"So?”
"Who can predict?" said the psychologist
glumly, and spreading his hands in a gesture
of helplessness. "All 1 hoped to explain was
that the subconscious mind will Itand back
•fata of sheer faa. If it happens to lie terri-
fying data, it is still handed forth. When
the conscious mind is confronted time and
time again with terrifying data, it 1x^ns to
pass erratic data to the subconscious. Ttis
subconscious mind has no means of ncccpting
data directly, so it takes tlie false data and
uses that to evaluate future information.
Store a lot of falsified data, and you hav«
insanity.”
'‘But in Johiitha's case?” urged Thar-
mane.
"We got a bit off the track," admitted the
psychologist with a smile, "it is quite po»-
24 ' XimiLUNG WONDEB STORIES
ilblc for tlic subconscious mind to come up
with an answer during sleep. How many
timei have we been baffled by a problem;
gone to bed in desperation, and awakened to
resume the problem with success ? That
comes because the subconscious mind has
been working on the problem all the time.
Sometimes the subconscious mind will come
up with the right answer and produce it in
a very dear dream.
"If the conscious mind doesn’t understand
it, we get distortion. An erratic mechanism
— the problem — may be depicted in a dream
as a fractured toy, a carousel running back-
wards, or a weapon that fires improperly
"In the case of Johntha, let us examine
the motives of the mind. Johntha was ill
with a nervous disorder that threatened the
mind. The mind as a means of remaining
sane did claim that he was someone else. lie
became this alien cm an alien planet which
possibly does not have the micro-organisms
that cause neurophasia. He built up a conv*
plctc life, a new personality, a new field of
endeavnr.
"The new personality must be logical, for
Johntha ’s mind is technically trained. It is
quite possible that the uninhibited subcon-
scious mind will accept a problem called im-
possible by a mind trained to accept the im-
possibility as such. It may be impossible
because of natural causes in which case the
entire thought-pattern is false, If it is im-
possible because of lack of data, then the
mind may well leap to the right conclusion
and produce something logical.”
The mathematician grunted. “In which
case the waking mind will reject it because
it is not understood."
"Right. To the conscious mind the thing
is still impossible.’’
‘T’ll withdraw my objections to Johntha’s
Bupcr-puwcied cugiiieb,” said Alomician
Homarr. ‘‘if Maradun can juggle Jobntha’s
cockeyed equation into something real.”
‘‘We'll have some unknown terms,”
warned the mathematician.
“Dig it out and wc’ll find out what the
terms mean.” Homarr suggested.
ARRY WILLIAMS struggled to re-
member his mathematics. Adding to
the gradual fade of the details was the dif-
ficulty of transposition of the Earthly terras
into Treiidan mathematics. Their inanipu-
laticm of equations was different. Their
method differed. And though Pi w«e still
the same number, the symbol was different
and the means of stating the numerical value
of Pi was different.
He took a sheet from Maradun and tried
to write an equation. He thought of it in
Earthly terms, which was difficult enough in
Johntha's mind, but when he tried to wTite It
down with Johntha’s body, he ended up in
the same block as he’d found when trying to
say Earth or Terra the first time. But a
Trendankation of the term Earth into ffie
alien form: “Yearth” would not .serve fur a
complex equation upon which depended the
development of an atomic reaction.
Especially one that was unknown as to
method and procedure. He tried, and he
tried, and there were a few distorted scrawls
on the paper.
Maradun shook his head. "Meaningless,”
he said.
Barry tried to expHin in words, but Mara-
dun stopped him after several minutes. "We
can ail theorize,” he said, and the atomician
agreed that sheer speculation on that problem
had been done for years, only much clearer.
"But supposing that I’ve produced a pos-
sibility based on facts unknown to you?”
argued Barry,
"Won’t do us any good unless wc can get
these unknow'n facts.”
"But I tell you it can be done!” said
Barry.
"Yes?” said Homarr politely — too
politely.
"I've seen it done!”
“And once,” smiled Maradun pointedly,
"I discovered that the square root of minus
one could be factored into a simple binomial,
a divisor, and a constant ; all real identities.
I was reading a paper before the Trendan
Mathematical Association, and all the mem- j
hers were hanging on every word, completely
ignoring the fact that I was standing there on j
the stage clad only in my underwear. What
bothered me most was the fact that I was i
standing with one foot in a bucket of cold !
water and one foot in a bucket of hot water. ”
Psychologist Crenda laughed. “Shall I
interpret that dream someday?”
"Not unless you can make that factoring ,
of mine come out even. The man who factors |
the square mot nf minus one into real niim-j
hers will be tlie greatest mathematician ini
the universe.”
Barry Williams flushed.
Psychologist Crenda thought for a nioment]
and then said : "It is obvious. Not only did j
1
THR TRANS-GALACTIC TWINS
iohntha's miti<l create a rtevtr personality on a
•jew planet in order to evade the ncurophasia
bacillus and return to health, Imt the normal
pshful-thinking section gave Johntha an
urge to be an atomician with space-craft
»[>cciali*Btio!i. You see. the subconscious
tnind was still aware that Johntha was still
an Trcnda and still ill. But if he could devise
- means of traveling through interstellar
^>acc, then the illogidtics of the false per-
sonality could be erased iu fact. The maze
the mind is complex.”
.Doctor Keridon nodded agreeably. To
Barry he said; ‘'This dreajii of yours is
’sding?”
‘‘It seems to be,” Barry said. ‘‘Wlieii I
irst awoke, it was <juite clear, But I find
“‘vsell slipping into the persoiality of
Johntha by the inonicnt."
Then Mathematician Mararitin looked up
from his paper and said; ‘‘Johntha. remem-
ber that any inathematidan can set down an
*quatioii of considerable complexity, assign
valuer, and solve it for all sorts of factors.
Your equations are of this variety, what little
I can make out of them. The trouble is chat
jx»u can not recall the proper values to assign
the various unknown functions.*’
D octor KENDON smiled tolerantly.
'T thank ail you gentlcinen. And I
rlievc that Johntha is cured. Johntha, you
•ay retimi to your old line of work as soon
• you care to/’
‘‘Tomorrow,” said he.
"As for the rest of us.*' said Crenda. “I’ll
y that we’ve enjoyed the discussion, though
Hhing came of it.”
"It's die wasted tirac,” said Doctor
Cendon.
“Not at all. Electronician Johntha is a
' lable man to Trenda. We can well afford
to spend and hour or two getting him set
properly after his long illness.” . . .
Hours later, Barry Williams sat in the
library, reading. He walked up and down
occasionally like a caged animal. He used
sheet after sheet of i>ap«r trying to reca[)turo
tlie science he had been so apt at on Terra.
He failed — miserably, flc fouglit for the
symbols and they eluded him. And he found
himself thinking in circles.
Vella, unquestioningly loyal, took Irer
small car into tlic city and returned with
several good texts on atomic theory, both
practical and theoretk-al. He look than and
pored over tliem. setting down factors that
he was able to decipher and translate. It was
all there, right up to the last few weeks of
Trenda's work on atomic theory. It
parallelled the Terran work, which was of
considerable help — but it did not go far
enough.
There was a great gap. Not iu the theory
itself, for' the possibilities of releasing the
total annihilation energy of alplia particles
was discussed as a desirable fantasy. It dis-
cussed- also the possible means of starting
the reaction as well as the theories of how
containing such a reaction might l>e achieved-
This was of no help whatsoever. Trcnda
had no idea of anything remotely practical.
It was merely negative evidence and com-
pletely in avoidance of the practical means
used on Terra. They ignored the Earth
method because they were in complete ignor-
aiKe of it. Ah such — Barry Williams failed
to learn a single thing from the stacks of
books.
Night came swiftly, and Vella prepared
dinner.
Barry put the problem out of his mind
then. He gave up for the moment because
[Turn page]
TmULLING WONDEH STOBIES
2t
too much striving was making him stale and
he preferred to bisk in the pleasant thought
of VeUa and he tt^ether.
This one factor^ he noted, was the only
thing that seemed untouclied by the molding
process that was going on in his mind. When
Vella entered, he became aware, vividly, of
himself as Barry WilHams.
It was very pleasant to see Vella in an
apron, working m the kitchen. Her presence
at the other end of the table pleased him
greatly, and after dinner, he ignored Hs
probletn, sitting in the deepening night, just
talking to the girl. In this, he found little to
say, but he plied her with quMtions about the
year or more of his illness and urged her to
tell him what she had been doing. He look
silent dislike to all males she mentioned in
friendly tones and enjc^ed with her whatever
recreation she had ^en that was not of a
man-woman kind.
The evening went swiftly, and it was not
until Johntha retired to his room that the
problem came up again.
It came with a sickening realization that
his — Barry Williams's — experience had
faded terribly. He had been unable to make
anything sensible out of his atomic theory.
He had renounced his Eanhly IxrthTigbt
for this. Forgetting Vella as an imposaibilit^,
ever, he had come here of hi* own will in
the hope that his act would make Terra suc-
cessful in tlie attenpt to Kt the Star Lady
into space. Kctuming to Karth would have
been futile; coming here to Trenda liad
seemed the only way. But he and Johntha
were in the same category. It was reasonable
to suppose that anything that he experienced
on Trenda his counterpart on Earth would
find simitar.
And he had failed to produce anything
cogent.
Was Jolintha as frustrated on Terra?
Would he awaken with the full knowledge
of space-problems plus those of the .sub-
ethcric level? Or would his Trendan science
fade and die. leaving the man helpless to
solve the Terran problem?
It was a terrifying possibility, and far too
gwat a poeaihility for his peace of mind.
For just as ftloinicians gave little heed to the
theories of electrrmicians here on Trenda. so
would the communications experts on Earth
be inclined to question a complete new
acience so far from botli the conimuiiirations
and the atomic fields (hat had been
"dreamed” up by an atemk expert
Or should he have insisted upon the fact
of his chai^ in personality? That might
have lent sufficient weight to his words to
force the atomician to experiment at least. i
Tliat is, providing he could have convinced ^
them. Were he to persist in the transposi-
tion theme, he knew, his hext habitation ]
would have been a psychic ward under strict ,
obsenatton. and the possibility that, forever
afterwards, his word and his judgment would
be subject to critical scrutiny.
So ^ had fafled. And he knew instinc-
tivehf that his own failure would be mirrored
by tfie man on Earth.
He had given up his Terra life on a gamble
and he had lost. Tur all the benefit that
either Earth or Trenda would derive. Barry
\N'illiama and Johntha might as well have
returned to their own bodies. It would have
made Hfe leas confusing to both of them.
Add to an this the fart that he was at-
tracted intellectually to a woman who was by
all common knowledge, his sister. The body
he inhabited was still johntha's, and despite
the mental affinity for the girl, the body re-
sponded only in a brotherly way. Barry
Williams was sincerely glad about this.
There would be enough torture to go on
living near to \’ella in her brother's indiff-
erent body. It would have been intolerable
frustration if Barry's instincts had been able
to arouse Johntha’s body.
CHAPTER VII
Barred Cell
I OHNTHA had awakened at the same
time as Barry Williams after their brief
mental rapport, His deep admiration for the
man was still strot^, and would probably be
strong for the rest of his Hfe. He knew Barry
William*’ mind, and knew the co^ of that
decision. He sprawled easily on the hospital
bed and considered the tiling fully. His
determination to niea.*ure up to the other
man's decision rose strong within him. He
would succeed I
No self-curse for failure entered Johntha's
mind for he set aside the possibility of failure
as something not to be considered. As he
lay there thinking, the nurse came with
breakfast, and with the nurse came the doctor
and several colleagues.
THE TRANS-GAlACnC TWINS
Z1
"Hello,” Mtd Johntha. TI» dot-twr noUd»d
I jtreetinff. "I'm feeling swell this morning.”
uded Johntha hopefully.
Doctor Edwards went over the supposed
B*rry Williams with a critical eye, testing
tad inspecting.
"It’s amazing. ” he said to his friends,
'that this man, struck on the wet forehead
with a high tension line, did not die.”
Miraculous,” agreed the nearest phyai-
dan. "Especially since the recovery has been
ao complete in such a short time."
Edwards Jtodded agreement. "This is
Barry Williams,” he told them. "Barry,
these are doctors whom I have asked to
consult with me on the case. Doctors Ham-
mond. Burger, and Morse."
“How do you do?” johntha said. ‘‘Am I
four doctors worth of illness-”
Tfi« laugii was prufeasiunally neat.
“Now," said Dr. Edwards, “my trouble is
this. When Barry awakened, he was quite
puzzled about himself, where he was, and
what he'd lieen doing. I trust that we can
discover whether any real damage has been
done by that rather severe electric shock.”
"He was puiiled?'’
"Yes,” replied the doctor, “First, he
recognized nothing about him as familiar.
He rejected the words ‘Car-line’ and — ”
“Understandable, ’* said Dr. Haimnond.
A simple psychic block.”
"Then he insisted that he was not Barry
Williams. But he could not tell us who he
thought he was.”
"Shock,” said Hammond.
■'Tliwi he asserted that his position had
been on tome project pertaining to inter*
planetary communications and he mentioned
Mite a bit of some unknown science in detail.
He again repudiated his accompllshmenu on
the i'dor Lady. He claimed that hs had been
suffering for some time with a disea4e known
as neurophasia.”
"Neurophasia?” asked Dr. Burger.
“Never hwrd of it.”
Might mean neurophthisis,” si^gested
Dr. Morse hopefully.
“There are no signs of neurophthliis,"
■id Edwards positively. “There Is no
waiuge of nerve tissue. 1 suspected a lay-
■aan's mispronounciation, to I checked on
Kurophage, neuropyra, and neurospaam.
Tbtre arc no symptoms of any of these,
ler present or past, This man's nervous
ion is in excellent tone,”
'Might have been a menUi trauma,” Dr.
Hmiuuund ventured. “His normally healthy
mind may have revolted at the thought of
Illness striking so swiftly and commetely,
and it therefore has built up a careful false-
memory covering a year of illness.”
“But why should he reject his work on
the Star Ladyf"
"It has been a problem that has eluded
him for some time,” explained Doctor Ed-
wards.
“Ah I” said the psychiatrist, Hammond.
“An attempt to deny a frustration! Another
psychic block.”
“I am beginning to believe so,” said Ed-
wards to Hammond. "Another interesting
thing is that the new science propounded by
the patient should convince him that a proper
application of it will solve his problem,”
H ammond smiled. "So simple when
the facts are known,” he said unctu-
ously. "A simple psychiatric case, easily
explained and justified. A psychic block
against illness, plus the delusion he can solve
hiyiroblem,''
■The other men nodded. Hammond'* word
as psychiatrist was good so far as they were
concerned.
Johntlia, lying in the bed, listened with
amusement. They had it so pat and perfect.
If at this moment be should sit up and admit
his name was Barry Williams, and agree
that the car-line feeder was the cause of his
mental confusion, the worthy doctors would
attribute his remarks of last evening to the'
effect of electrical shock upon the brain.
But then any insistence he made as to the
science of sub-etherics and the functions
thereof would be immediately discounted as
the ravings of a sick mind. In fact, it was
well that he had experienced that rapport
with the mind of Barry Williams or he
would be convinced, right now, tliat his past
experience on Trenda had only been part of
a magnificent dream, and as a dream, he'd
not have any faith in the value of Trendan
science. But since meeting Barry Williams,
mind-to-mind, he knew the real truth, amaz-
ing as it was. He was now prepared to accept
the truth and go to work, applying sud-
etherlcs to the atomic engines, fic would
carry out Barry Williams' ambitions regard-
ing the Star Lady.
“Your observations are interesting. Dr.
Hammond,” he said. “But not true. ’
"Nonsense!" snapped Hammond.
“You are wrong.”
THRILUN'G WONDER STORIES
“Indeed?” said Hammond with lifted
eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“Then suppose you give us your version,”
said Doctor Hammond pulling himself up
haughtily.
“Surely. I am really — ah, the best that
I can do with this Earthly tongue-training
is Chonthrad, Leave it at that because it is
of minor importance now. I was an elec-
tronic specialist on a world known as
Dhrenga, a distant star. I was smitten
about a year ago with a disease of the nerves
which we knew as veuraphn.vn. It is mo.stly
a mental ailment and its name comes because
the mind causes the nervous system to create
great gaps iu the ner\e-impulbes or in the
speed of transmission along the neurones.
Thus, you sec. even .the involuntary muscles
are affecte<l adversely, hut the effect upon the
voluntary system is complete loss of dexterity
and timing, also balance.”
Edwards started to speak but Hantmond
stopped him imperiously. “His version is
iinporiaiil,” he said seriously, “We'll not
interrupt.'’
“Thank you,” said Barry. “Yesterday,
Barry Williams was .struck by a failing high-
tension line. It created a condition of .shock
in the brain. The mind of Barry Williams
left tliis body here and entered mine on a
distant planet. I, seeking a means out of the
neurophasia. entered his body. I believe this
is due to the fact that the two of us are
closely attuned. At any rate, I came here
complete with my knowledge of the Dhren-
gan science of sub etheric wave mechanics,
which will be instrumental in solving the
problem of the Lady. This problem, you
know, is one caused by the danger that the
energy from the engines may cotuunic the
engines themselves. Like an ulcer, doctors.”
“I note the reference to medicine with
interest.” said Hammond quietly.
“I am speaking v ith Barry Williams’
body, using his brain. My mind thinks, of
course, in the terms of my ow'n planet and my
own training. But the brain which uses no
faise symbols, accepts the pure thought, and
when 1 speak, the proper translation is made
in the brain and the words come out with
Barry’s training in si>eech and habit. When
I am apoken to, I lieai the words, but the
pure idea conveyed to the. brain by the words
is easily translatable into my own mental
terms, hollow?”
“You have any proof of this?”
J OHNTH.^ nodded. He lighted a ciga-
rette. a habit he found interesting but
unnecessary to his mind though to this body.
It was an Earthly habit. Trendans did not
smoke.
'T have proof,” Johntha said. "T.ast night
I was about willing to doubt my past ex-
periences; to term them dream or delusion.
Then last night, iny mind met the mind of
Barrv- Williams. We discussed the transfer.
We discussed our singular problems, and we f
decided that this carried-knowledge would |
njost certainly fade if wc each returned to our ■
own bodies. On the other hand, if we re-
turned to the other’s body, each of us would
carry suflicicnl information to enable — well,
tc enable me to get the Star Lady in working
order. He — sent me here. I have a great
admiration for the man. A man willir^ to
give up his own ambition to satisfy the col-
lective ambition of Earth is not often en-
countered.”
“You see?’’ said Dr. Hammond. “.Such.
j)crfecl self-justification. Such Ijcauliful
sophistry-.”
“You are unconviiKed?” asked Johntha.
"Your proof lies in your own mind only.”
“But w'hat about my science?” demanded
Johntha. “1 will solve the problem of the
engines.”
“My dear lad,” said Hammond, “if fiction
couldn’t solve any problem, it would be poor
fiction, indeed, I can think of a number of
ways of solving your problem of the engines
and T am admittedly ignorant of atomic
physics. A super-ray or development of some
unknown level of energy peculiarly adaptefl
to means of propulsion at velocities exceed-
ing that of light. I need .not go into detail,
lor in a story it is the characters who count
and not the imaginative inventiveness oi the
author.
“I do have a friend, though, young Mr.
Williams, who has, for sake of writing
logically, created for himself a complete
scientific background with false-basic mathe-
matics and a close interrelationship of the
supposedly real scientific phenomena. You,
apparently have done the same thing as a
means of explaining your illne.ss and inability
to solve the atomic engine problem. Frustra-
tion so complete will do that to the mind
you know.”
“I-ook,” said Johntha sharply, “I know
what I’m saying and why.”
"Naturally. Naturally. And for hundreds
of years, all men believed firmly tliat a heavy
THE TBANS-GALACnC TWINS
•tone faster than a light one. False, of
course, but they believed in it and thetr own
int^rity with equal vigor."
"So what do you hope to do regarding my
ease?" asked /ohntha.
"I am going to prescribe a complete rest.
You must not dwell on the atomic problem
nntil I pennit you to resume.”
"You can’t stop me!" said Johntha flatly.
"I can. And with complete satisfaction
that I am helping to maintain the mental
(tability of a fellow titan.”
“It is my word against yours!” said
Johntha hotly.
“I think it is your own word that will
work again.st you.*’ said Dr. Hammond. He
kxAed ineamngly at his collegues who
aodded solemnly.
Barry got the look. “But the science of
sub-ethenc wave mechanics!” he cried.
"Who would even attempt to tiy an ex-
periment based upon a sheer hallucinatiun?”
ttid Dr. Hammond disparagingly.
"But it is a true science!”
"So was the solar system according to
.■Vristotle."
"But I have proof.”
"So did .Aristotle. And what liappened
when Galileo tried to teach the Copemican
theory to Pope Urban? Galileo discovered
that he was bucking proof of a false nature
hut none the less solid.”
f OHNTHA gave vent to his disgust.
"Reverse that, will you? So far as I
kss concerned, your proof against me is as
iulse ajgaiiist a known science as the case
you bring to bear.”
"The self-justification is remarkably per-
wct." explained Dr. Hammond to his
‘•^Heagncs.
"Like the case in a text-hook, lie even
mrns my o-wn analogy against me, to aid his
• •wn proof . ”
"Tnen what do you hope to do?" said
Jotuuha.
“Detain you, if necessary."
‘’Detain me!" yelled Johntha. "Like
Hues you will !”
"It will be for your own good."
"Take your help aud — '
"Railing against the rules will never help,”
■id the psychiatrist placatingly.
“But. hang it all, the Star Lady — ”
> "Will either wait for your return or they
■dl get a new atomic cjqiert."
P they can't!”
29
“Barry, quiet down or they'll never accept
you back.'*
“But my promise to Barr>’ 1”
Hammond looked at Edwards. “You
see?” he said. “He persists in the delusion.”
"Delusion be blowed I I’m going out there
and go to work. See?”
Johntha got up and started toward the
doset. hoping to get his clothing. His path
was blocked by Dr. Burger.
"Don’t he ridiculous,” said Burger.
Johntha let the doctor have it right across
from shoulder to point-of-jaw. Burger
drojiped like a limp rag.
That was the touch-off. The other three
physicians leaped on Johntha's back before
he could turn. Their sheer weight carried
him down, and there were too many of them
for him to fight efficieiilly. He slugged Ham-
mond in the pit of the stomach and doubled
the psychiatrist over his forearm, He kneed
Dr. Morse viriovisly because that was the
quickest way to get rid of Morse.
Edward, s, mcatitune, was getting set, and
the older man chopped the side of Johntha’s
face with the edge of bis hand. It would have
felled him cold if delivered by a younger man.
As it was, the elderly doctor’s blow staggered
Johntha, givii^ Dr. Edwards another chance
to get at him.
Tlie second weak blow in tlic same place
shook Johntha's frame terribly, and utwn the
third, the man went down, weakly, 'tie was
still struggling when Dnrtor F.Hwards thntst
a hypodermic into his wrist — an emergency
thrust that catight only the edge of it but
was none the less efficient.
Blackout came. . . .
Johntha awoke again to find a changed
scene. Iron l>ar3 guarded the tiny window.
The bed w'as small but rugged. It would be
impossible to break up the bed and use any
pieces to effect a break. The electric light
was set, recessed into the ceiling and,
obviously, could he turned off from outside,
for tlicre was iiu light switch. Rut the walls
were not padded, and the restraining jacket
that he had been delivered in was now gone.
He never knew about that, incidentally.
Johntha sat tip and swore vigorously. He
tried the dour, and then he rattled the door-
knob hard, It was locked, of course.
The Judas window swung open and a
hard fare pwred in. "Shut up," it snapped.
"Where am I?"
"Lincoln Sanitarium."
"How do I gel out?”
30 THRILLING WONDER STORIES
“Through this door."
“Well, open it!”
“Not.me. boddy, Not me,”
"You can’t keep me locked np/’ shouted
Johntha.
“You’re speaking from the cell now !“ the
guard laughed oproarimisly. “Reiueniber?”
A ngrily, johntha went close to the
Judas window. He peered into the
guard’s lace and then saia: “I’d like to
poke you in that nasty nose Gel out and
bring back sometme with authority.”
“Who. me?” asked the guard with mock
servility.
“Yes,” snarled Johntha. “You. Now
git!”
“Aye, squire,” mocked the guard.
“Scram,” said Barry with as much menace
as he could muster.
"Oh, go peel a egg,” grunted the guard.
"Look, chump, you re in tlrcrc, see. and
there you'll stay. Giving orders ain’t going
to get you nothing. And threatening people
wid violence will land you in a padder wid
a jacket on. see? Now .sit down quietly and
in a half hour we'll start giving you treat-
ments.”
“Treatments?”
“Yah. Electrotherapy.”
Barry sank down on the bed. Electro-
therapy i 'ITiey’d scramble his memory-
pattern until it was like an addled e^g.
They’d destroy his atibconscious evaluation
of all of his own previous experiences. The
card-file of his memory laboriously built up
through the long years of his life on a day
by day l>a.sis would be upset and all the cards
scattered. Then in a year or more of careful
sorting, he could replace them, but with a
different set of vnlues a.ssigned to each.
Tlic sub-etheric wave mechanics, pre-
cariouslv carried in his mind on s super-
imposed. not-undersiood method would die
completely since it was only his ego that
retained it. The urnmtund warpings of the
convolutions of his brain caused by the
superimpo.sitton would react to their pre-
formed pattern and the memory of Trendan
Johntha. would die completely.
And what of the real Barry WHHams?
His ambition would go unrealized. Johntha
felt sick. The other man, willingly giving up
his position, his friends, and his life to the
job of getting Earthmen to the stars, would
live and die on Trenda, never knowing
wliether Earthmen would place ibeir mark
on the interstellar reaches. And then Barry’s
mind would live in torture of its own
decision, for Johntha's mind in Barry Wil-
liams’s body untlerstood the instant and
honest attraction that existed between Vella
and the mind of Harry Williams. Barry was,
to all intents and purposes, locked in the
body of Vella's brother, and brother didn’t
marry sister on Trenda any more than they
did on Earth.
Johntha knew that Barry was liohest an<
true. N’clla wa* untouchable to the Earth
man. Hence the secondary decision. Ha<
they known about this upset in plan. Bart^
need not have pUce<l in a jxjsitlon O
mental torture, living so close to and yet s«
remote from Vella. At lea.st, on Earth. Ram
could have existed on hope, Hope that they'i
perfect the atomic engine and eventual!;
find Trenda. A vain, hopeless ambition, bu
none the less vital enough to drive a man int<
super achievement. . , .
The door opened and men entered- John
tha leaped up. 'Tliey weren’t going to scram
hie his brain!
Whh insane strength he fot^ht then:
They won by weight of numbers thougi
Johntha left a few Iwoken heads on the waj
Not trussed, hut firmlv held by hard, bruti
hands, he was lifted and carried alor^ th
hallway, up a flight of stairs, atid into a roorj
bare but terril>k — equipiicil with a simpl
chair, a piece of electrical apparatus, and
head.set. He was strapiied to the chair. H
fought them with his eyes and his voict
and they pressed down upon his head th
electrodes.
A flaming green light blinded him pail
lessly, and he knew no more.
—
CHAP'TER VIII
Rouyh-Hoiue
I
■= " 1
Y et BARRY'S bitter realization <
complete failure was intolerabl
Simply to forget was impossible. Only I
immersion could partial forgetting be a ,
complished. Therefore Barry returned ^
his laboratory in the city on .arising the ne ^
morning. If he could not take Trenda to t'
stars, he wouhl make communication t
tween the four inltahited planets of t
system a verbal two-way as soon as possib
THE TBAKS-OALACnC TWINS
Unlike his difficulty in recalling the Terran
irience, Barry found that working In the
wmmunicationa field was quite easy. Of
rourse, this was not the problem of frustra-
tion that his job had been on Terra. Here
was a straight designing Job with ail factor#
known and the problem one of merely adapt-
ing the known scientific theory to practise.
Barry immersed himself in it. tfe applied
himself diligently, made excellent decision#
ind cut some close corners with singular
luccess. In the end it would be far less satis-
fying to hav? his — Johntha’s — name on the
usum bronze tablet at the various communi-
cation stations than it would have been to
have the initial interstellar spacelane called
by his name.
But he could no longer reach for the stars
and hope to win. He could reach for a lesser
goal and win, and he would win brilliantly.
Perhaps after a high success, of this minor
nature. Trenda would give him permission
to make the other attempt once again.
He kept a notebook at hla side daily.
Whenever he found something at all clear,
he would set it down in the notebook and
forget it. As -the days added together, the
notebook filled slowly with symbols that
were half a corrupted Terran script and half
good Trendan characters. The form# of the
equations were mixed, too, conforming as
they did partly to T erran and partly to
Trendan conventions.
Some day it would all be clear, perhaps.
He worked long hours and accomplished
much. He knew that both Psychologist
Crenda and Doctor Kendon were following
bis actions with very critical eyes — and he
also knew that they found only laudable acts.
Occasionally Atoniician Homarr w-ould drop
in to see him, and though it rankled hi*
mind, he and the atomidan would tr»t his
dream as an amusing incident.
Inwardly, he knew that the atomidan was
not too certain. Crenda’s statements about
the subconscious mind being able to arrive
at a solution that might not be understood
because of conscious inhibitions in thought,
had struck Homarr very close to home, and
though the atoniician did not think there
was anything to the "unreal science" as he
called it, he w'as nut cprlahi that Barry's
idea was in the realm of pure imagination.
The mathematician called often, too. This
relationship was amusing to both, From
time to time a bit of Terran mathematical
manipulation would creep into Barry’s work,
31
and the complete difference to the Trendan
style puzzled the mathematician. He had
thought lightly of possible differences in
symbol and structure, hut had never done
anything more than toy with the duodeci-
mal system once or twice.
Maradun, like most mathematidans, was
a chess-player of no mean ability, and ha
played often with Barry, though the Terran
mind in Bany’s body did little but hinder
occasionally. That led to various types of
fairy chess, which both enjoyed, Then, that
in turn led back to what Mathematician
Maradun elected to call "fairy mathematics."
They made a game of it.
Barry was no match for Maradun at
straight Trendan math. There were few on
the planet that were a match for Maradun.
But in "fairy mathematics,” using the dis-
torted Terran symbols, Barry’s additional
training, however slightly remembered kept
him abreast of Maradun. Barry knew that
the reason was that the mathematician was
forced to undergo considerable translation
to interpet the symbols and the form ; Barry
thought that it might be like a man speaking
a foreign language with a native some time
removed. One thinks in his own language
and translate.?, while the other man thinks
and speaks in his own.
B arry was Ibe only one with a real
purpose in all this. The other Tren-
dans were merely watching his development,
and keeping a sharp lookout for any possible
reversion. Barry encouraged them because
he hoped that their constant presence and
urgings would strike a close parallel, and
possibly awaken — or re-awaken — the science
that was slowly becoming less and less
concise.
Or, perhaps, that one day they might strike
the proper factors themselves. Barry did not
care how Trenda succeeded. He wanted
success at any cost, for he was still mindful
of the parallel between himself and the man
in his body on Terra. If Trenda, no matter
how remotely circuitous a method, finally
evolved the super-powered drive in its practi-
cal form, then he could be reasonably cer-
tain that on Terra, the man who spoke from
Barry Williams's body would evolve the
proper science again to make the Star Lady
rise in safety and traverse the awesome gulf
between the stars.
His memory of the Star Lady was fading
in parallel to his loss of detail on atomic
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
32
theory. At first, he coiikl visualize the sleek
upright ovoid of space in every detail. Every
mark, every line was clear. Tlieii like photo-
graphs taken at greater distances success-
ively, the image became les.s than wire-sharp,
and the ntinute. fussy detail blurred through
the overall conff»nuatioii remained.
Like the matter of the window-ports and
their shutters. He knew they were there, but
he was becoming hazy as to what type of au-
tomatic hinges they used to drop the steel
shutters over the dear glass — and later he
forgot whether they dropped down from
above, or swung over from the side. He knew
they did not run on slides, hut he wondered
how soon it would be before he was uncertain
as to that, recalling only that there were
shutters of an iiidistina type. '
Dut the days wore into months, marked
off by the r^ilar rise of Trenda's double
moon, and there wa.s no glimmer nf the secret
of the atomic engine.
Barry went into the usual cycle of Iowa
and highs. There were limes when he felt
that something must eventually come of it all.
At other times he went into the blue funk
of a man who has Mmbted all and lost es'ejy-
ihing. The "might have been” tone was
desperate, though he knew that either way.
no space travel would have come for Terra,
He consoled himself at times on the upswing
by a self-belief that a good try with failure
is infinitely better than not trying at all-
Barry’s big change in personality seemed,
to his friends, only a change in his attitude
toward women. Previously, the real Johntha
had enjoyed tlicir company. Now he did not
shun women, bin neither did he seek them
out as he did before. He preferred the com-
pany of his sister.
For adding to Vella’s attractions for Barry
was his own inward feeling of being Barry
Williams so much more vividly when they
were together. At other times, the Barry
Williams and the Johntha jwrsonalilics
•eemed to merge. When he was with Vella,
the Johntha side grew almost dormant and
iiitellecUially, at least, he became Barry
Williams.
This feeling he nurtured carefully. He
often thuuirht that if his secret came to him.
it would be during a time when he and Vella
were enjoying one another’s company.
It was quiet despcratkiii. With the siiiglc-
purposed mind of Barry Williams seilHng
only to Vella, it was difficult to maintain a
mentally brotherly attitude despite the fact
that the body he inhabited responded only as
any brother’s body would respond to a well-
liked sister. Bairy’s trouble was not unique
among men He had been the type that paid
little attention to womanhood until one
entered strongly enough to create a desire.
IToni that munietit on he would iKilice only
I T BOTH helped and hurt. For Vella
was ill complete ignorance of the change
in personality. Therefore she failed to notice
his deepened attention to her. Similarly she
blithely accepted the company of other men
while Barry kept his mouth closed tightly.
Ahbough be was more Barry Williams
when he was in her presence, her presence
was too compelling to permit him more titan
secondary attention to his problem. She
often chided him for drifting off in reveris
in her jiresemfe. which did not help, for in
those times. Barr>’ was trying desperately
to penetrate the veil that covered his mem-
ory.
At one lime he decifie<l to give up com-
pletely, thinking that if lie forgot the Barry
Williams, he vunild then become as imitii
Jfihntha a.s lohntba was or had Iveen. That
might solve his difficulty at one complete
swoop. Then, as Johntha he would return
completely to Johntha’.s habits and fin.vlly
achieve happiness and emotinnal stability.
It did not work. uppermost in Barrv'j
mind was the simple desire to see interstellat
space conquered. He could not look upwarr
to the stars at night without having the fact
of his true being brought hack to him. Th«
twinkling .stars were a constant reminder, a.'
was Vella.
Pas-sing days wore into a year, and thi
work on the communications system pro-
gressed rapidly on Trends. Whcii the initia
testing of the station was under wav. Barry
made plans to siipeirise the final details oi
the similar installation on Vardun. whicl
was Planet 11. He spent some time in con-
sidering whether or not to take Vella along
blit when the time came, there seemed to 1^
some unspoken agreement between them, foi
he returned home to find Vella trying tt
make the, final inap shut on her traveling
case.
Using liis greater weight, he did it fot
her ami lUen looked into her eyes and asked
'Tlriing along?”
“Positively,” ^ said, “My part in thii
project has been small, but important. I'n
THE TBANS-GALACnC TWINS
oing to be there when the final link is inade.
•want to see it.'’
“Your part?” lie asked stupidly.
“Haven’t I kept the chief electronician
well fed, well housed, and reasonably
hapm?”
He laughed. More important than it
sound.s.” he admitted.
“There." .she said. “So I'm going."
He nodded. “You've been a solid char-
acter. Vella,”
“Poof.” she joked. “Not too much so."
“Yes, you have. I'm not too easy a brother
to live with these days."
Vella stood up and faced him. “YonVe
closer to me than ever liefore," she told him
rimply. “You’ve changed, Johntha. Up to
your — illness, you never enjoyed the same
music as 1 did, not the same pictures, writ-
ing, or games. Now we enjoy them tewether.
Don’t pvc me too much credit. Johntha. be-
cause it is very easy to please someone who
is completely compatible.’’
Well, he thought, comiiatibility is about
dl we have in common,
“Am I he asked in a pleased voice.
“Give it a better name.” she laughed.
“When I’m feeling a bit low, nothing you
seem to do or say gets banal. \\Tien I’m fecl-
ing very good, we're both feeling good.
When I want a quiet and restful time, it
seems as though that is the time when you
prefer to sit by the fire and read quietly, and
If I feel like n^ing noise, you get a big kick
out of catling up a slew of people and raising
the roof.”
He grinned boyishly. "You're just saying
that because it's true,” he said with a laugh.
He put both hands on her head and ruffled
up her hair.
“See?” she .said backing off a hit. "Nor-
mally I'd slay you with the can-opener if
you did that. Right now I 'll bet I can tie you
in a knot. Rough-house?” she asked, and
not waiting for an answer she ran forward
and caught his hands in hers, and then tried
to throw him to the floor in a sort of niis-
api.>lied judo hold. He fended her off. laugh-
ing hut tripping o\'er the bag that was still
on the floor.
ONCERNED about her. Ba^- fought
a double-battle. He was fending her oflf
with l>oth bands and at the same time he
managed to throw his weight around so that
when the tripping came to its crashing con-
clusion on the floor, the impact of her body
S
was cushioned by his.
That ended the battle right there. When
approxiniately one hundred and fifteen
pounds lands full on the average male mid-
section, most ideas of fighting l>ack leave at
the same time the breath leaves.
There was a mild blackout, and Barrj
came to with his head pillowed on Vella’s
lap. - He took in a deep, ragged breath.
“Hurt you?” she asked. Iwndin^ down
over him. Her face was full of concern.
“Honest. I didn't menu to murder you all
tbe way. Just a little bit.”
He grinned weakly. “You shouldn’t have
planted that bag. right there." he told her.
“I'm all right.”
Her fingers traced the contour of his chedc
and her face became solemn.
"I'm sorry,” she said quietly, lookii^ into
his eyes. Her hair tickled his forehead and
he reached to brush it away. In.stead, his
hand only got as far as her cheek, where it
stopped. Her face was warm and soft in
the palm of his hand. He returned her sol-
emn look for several heartbeats, and then
his hand came down. Her face followed it.
Her lips were warm and soft. The kiss
was genOe and affwttionate Then, quickly,
it was over.
“Y'know,” he said, looking up into her
face with a laugh, “I’ll bet you'd be fun to
neck with.”
“I might be able to get you a sigoeef affi-
davit.” she returned, putting her hands be-
neath his shoulders and IKiiiig liini to a sit-
ting position on tbe floor.
“I'l strangle the guyl” He glared. His
laughter -was forced but it sounded genuine
enough. He climbed to his feet, rubbed bis
inidsection ruefully, and then gave Vella a
hand up.
“Now," he said. “I suggest that we use
any more rough-house we liave left in our
systems to wrangle the baggage, you bag-
gage!”
She stuck lier tongue out at him. Tlien she
laughed and went into her bedroom after the
other traveling l>ag.
And as Barry watched her retreating fig-
ure, he made a mental note. Whatever had
happened to Johntha’s mind on Terra liad
better be pretty good to make it worth all
this. He took a deep breath and put the wor-
ried thought out of his mind.
But the question of what had happened
when Johntha woke up on Terra in Barry
Williams’s body condnued to bother him. It
THKILUNG WONDER STORIES
a
would continue to bother him nntil it was
either aoh'ed or he was dead.
Velbi c*me bach with the other traveling
The warm merriment wa.s still in her
face, but Barry carefully avoided a repetition
of the rot^h-hmire. To her it may have been
mere jollity, but to him, it was a enpheniism
for physical contact. The specter of wonder
about Terra was too strong, now.
CHAPTER IX
Test Journey
O XF. AFTERNOON Barry and Vella
took off from Trcnda to Vardun on
the daily space run. Exchangii^ light ban-
ter, they ertibarked. Barry having regained
all of his high spirits, once he quit wonder-
ing about possible happenings on Earth. He
preferred to put those thoughts out of his
mind anyway. Only when he was at the
lowest d)b 6f his physical strength did he
worry about the other man's ability to recall
the sub-etheric plienomena. He knew that
the principles were less complex than the
three or four steps of the atomic theory that
he had been tmahle to recall clearly.
When he fell best, Barry recalled that the
aiAretheric level of wave propagation had
been suspected by a few savants on Earth,
but as yet they had not sus{«cted that the
idea was hasc<1 upon anything tangible
enough for a general inveirigation. In lime
eventual success might rc»»Ut. though how
soon was impassible to predict.
His moodiness, after the rough-hoiise with
Vella, hart been noticed by the girl and she
tried hard to raise his spirits. Her efforts
met with success.
He showed lively interest when the ship
finally lifted from Trenda and hit the outer
sky. He wanted to see the entire sky, and
though he was no stranger to space travel,
this was his first trip since the transposition
of per.=cnaUlie.' and he wanted to see it with
new eyes. But as always, there was not a
single stellar formation that he found fa-
miliar. For all Barry knew. Trcnda might
be less than a hundred light years from
Earth, or Trendo might lie in any one of the
outlying galaxies so remote that only an
astronomer could find them on the super-
perfect f^otographic materials, exposed in
the thousand-inch mirror on T.una, The
numberless stars of the galaxy were too awe-
some to rcintemplflfe. When this numlie.r was
nmhiplied by the innumeral)!e galaxies, the
possibilities of locating this particular one
were too great to consider.
Trenda, he thought, might be "anywhere."
He had mentioned the possibilities of two
races being almost identical within the uni-
verse to Matheniatician Maradun at one
time, and the mathematician had agreed.
"With a pretty good approximation of an
infinite number of stars possible in the over-
all universe,” said Maradun, “'the possibili-
ties of a planet very similar to Trenda in
physical constants must be tremendous.
Among these, wbirli must nifmher into mil-
lion rtpon million, the chances of a race at*
most identical would be likely, despite th<
myriad details that might cause a minor de-
viation. If the factors of classification whtd'
are required to throw a race into this cate-
gory are exceeded by the number of possiblt
breeding-planets, then the possibilify of t
similar race are directly proportional to th«
number of classification-places divided hy th«
number of breeding-planets. Follow?”
’"Vagrtely,” said Barry, dropping the sub
ject as being one tliat would never be solvet
in that manner.
But in space or not. the sky was uttcrl)
strange. As for physical similarity, hss knowl-
edge of anatomy was fair, arul he and Velk
seemed quite similar. But there might b<
hidden factors. 3Ic'<l like to know the chance;
of that, mostly, though these things wen
merely questions of academic importance t<
him.
He turned from the passengers’ observa
tion port. Vclln was talking to the captain
She motionetl him over.
"Johntha, this is Captain Tramnilo. Cap
tain, this is. Jnhntha."
"Glad to have you aboard, young man,’
boomed the captain. "You’re n>c*rc or less u
a celebrity, you know.”
"Nonsense,” answered Barry.
"You are," insi.sted Trammlo. ‘‘First, yot
are one of tlie very few to be cured of neuro
phasia. and secondly you are credited wit'
the hi^c job of developing the sub-etheri
bonds for communications on a verbal bari
between the planets. You don’t read papers?
"Of course I do," laughed Barry.
T he CAinTAIN of the ship shruggw
"I'm an old man,” said Trajiimlo scri
THE TRANS-GALACnC TWINS
oiuty. “I've been capUin of space craft for
twenty years. Worltcd my way ap from
fenemior technician But, Jonntti, I’m
never quoted in the paper*.”
“I'm no genius,” said Barry. “Any num*
ber of men could have done it.”
"Granted. But Johntlta is the one who is
doing it 1 That makes you a popular fellow.
You two win eat at the Captain's table.
That, young sir, ie an official order. I defy
you to defy it.”
"And if I do?” aiked Barry, with curi-
oaity.
“Space mutiny," said the captain in a
sepulchral tone, drawing a forefinger across
hfs throat. "Oh man! We really throw the
book at those who defy the captain's orders 1”
"I’d better join you.” laughed Barry. “I
see I can't lick you."
“I'd like you to join me in the scanning
room. I think my communicationa man would
be tickled green to have you visit him. Do
you mind, or have you better things to do?"
the captain asked,
“Come along?” Barry asked Vella.
She shook her head. '‘Electronics never
fascinated me,” she said. “I'll see you
around.” He nodded, but it was slightly
sour. He turned to follow the captain.
"We'll not keep you long," promised the
captain. "I’d not luve boAcred you at all.
but you are a rather serious-mind^ lad, you
Vthjw.”
"Am 1 ?"
"You are. Look. Johntha. You’ve been
an hour in space. Look behind you. Every
male on the promenade has paired himself
off with some woman — or vice versa. You
are traveling with your sister and you make
no attempt to leave her : to introduce her to
some eligible man ; or even to go off seeking
company yourself. So. therefore 1 assume
that you are serious-minded, and won’t mind
bit of technical gab. But you shouldn't as-
sume that your sister is serious-minded too.
.She might like a bit of dancing.”
That, thought Barry, is the main trouble
with being attracted to a girl supposed to be
your sister. People make It extremely in-
convenient.
He laughed and said, "1 forget, at times."
".Sure you do. But I rememlier — and I,
young man. was not a serious-minded young-
ster. Forget it occasionally and be light-
hearted. AH work and no play, you know.”
Oiptain Trammlo tq^ened a huge door
narked No AdmittoMce and waved Barry in.
*8
They went through corridors and up laddars
until th^ reached the big scanning rexxn on
top of the ship "|j)ok, gentlemen. This is
Electronician Johntha!”
I .uckily the ship was on automatic, for
they all left their posts and crowded about
Barry, shaking his hand. He responded
cheerfully enpi^h. but he was wondering
what \’ella was doing. There was no escape.
So Barry took the crew’s generous accep-
tance of Ilia presence with good grace. They
made him one of them, and then plied him
with questions.
The talk circled swnftly and took the usual
line, Barry wa.s asked about the sub-etheric
communications bands, which was a subject
of interest to him, too. lie started to describe
the job from start to finish, and the crew
settled comfortably, anticipating a lor^ talk.
Barry saw the expectancy and surrendered
to the inevitable. He had no right to Vella's
affccticms anyway.
He continued talking,
As for Vella — after Captain Trammlo led
Johntha away, she turned to find herself
partly surrounded by a number of admiring
young men.
"you’re Vella,” said a good-natured fel-
low beside her.
"I admit it,” she laughed.
“Johntha’s sister?'’ asked another young
man.
She nodded. *
A THIRD man came up the deck and
shouldered his way through. "Beat
it,” he taid with a laugh. "I have the inside
track here.”
"Hello, Helmond.” Vella greeted him
with a smile. "I'm surrounded.”
Helmond chuckled and asked, generally:
"Are these guys courting you or are they
courting Johntlia's sister?”
" Has she got a brother ?” asked the first
man in a plaintive tone.
"Who’s Johntha?” returned the other
"I’m flattered.” said Vella.
“Look,” said Helmond. “There’s no
sense in fighting about this, because as win-
ner I don't care to have fist-marks all over
my face as I take the lady dancing."
"Or,” added the first man drily, “have
shoe-prints all over your face as you ap-
proach some other w«nan for the same
pleasure.”
"Be that as it may— which T doubt,” Hel-
36
THRILLINQ WONDESt StORDES
mond grinned. “The point is this. Vella has
been sort of a she-hermit for more than a
year. What with mirsing Johnfha hark to
nealth. taking care of his place for him, and
one thine and another, I doubt that she's
even held a man's hand for better than two
solid years. I proclaini a truce in the battle
of wits, and wc shall see that \'clla makes up
for lost time, There's three of us. We shall
pledge ourselves to keep off all other vailtures
for the duration. And now we shall seek the
dance floor and dance off her shoes. Right ?”
ELLA laughed uncertainly. Then she
w nodded.
“Witli three escorts, I’ll make up for lost
time in a hurry,” she said.
“We'll match for first honors," said Hel-
nx>nd.
He won, and he steered Vdia out on to
the dance floor.
“Goodness,” she .said. "I'm rusty. ”
"Nothing that a bit of practice won’t
cure," he told her. “Vella, being rusty on the
dance fi^or is impossible."
"I am, you know."
"Remind me that I must speak to Johntha
harshly."
"It’s not his fault, really."
"Not primarily,” said Helmond. "Second-
arily, though, he is responsible. You’re mis-
sfng a lot, Vella. ■■
"I felt that way while Johntha was ill.
But it’s been over a year now since he re-
covered. and licineslly. Helmund, I’ve not
been a bit bored."
“He could Ik you out more.”
“He isn’t ‘letting’ me out. I come and go
according to my conscience.”
“Then your conscience must stop feeling
responsible for Johntha.”
‘*1 might turn it off."
"Do until it is atrophied.”
"TrouMe is,” said Vella, “this it isn’t all
conscience. I actually enjoy doing things
for my brother."
"DocAn’t sound like fun."
"Perhaps it doesn’t. But Johntha and I
have so very much in conunou.”
“Look, little Vella! Intellectual compan-
ionship is very necessary to all intelligent
people. That you find it with your brother
makes it very convenient, but also it makes
for not going places enough. You get into a
easy rut. Why enter a mental fcoctng
bout wim some guy you’re not certain cn
when you can discuss the things you like with
Johntha? I know how it Is. But it Isn’t prac-
tical.
"I know. But T still don’t mind.”
H elmond stared at her, then waved
his hand in an exasperated way.
“But. good grief. Vella I For more than
two years now you've been devoting yourikf
to that brainy brother of yours, I skute his
ability and 1 am flabbergasted at your con-
stancy to his cause. But two years out of
your young life is important, too. Vella. The
men you Priced with in school are settling
down to raising families and you seem to be
withdrawing into a sort of shell. It's not
right.”
"I still don’t seem to mind,”
"But the Vella I knew was not the mousy
type. Vella was the girl with the popuUrt^-
plus. with the longest date list, with the
brightest look and the happiest future. Vella
used to have light feet and a gay smile. Vella
still has 'em, gal, hut she’s not using them."
“Helmond. I don't mind it a Wt. I admit
it looks odd, but somehow the idea of finding
a life completely away from Johntha seems
odious to me.”
"Hang it, Vella! The man who marries
you isn't going to many your brother too 1”
“I haven’t considereiJ marriage,” she said
simply.
"I give up," he said. "You’re not con-
cealing a love for some unknown V
"Not at all. I’ve told the truth.”
"Well, I’m licked.” said Helmond sol-
emnly. “And I don’t get it.”
It was hours later when Barry reap-
peared. Vella had danced around her thro*
escorts time and anin, and was making an-
otlier round with Helmond when Barry en-
tered the room. Helmond was still talking to
her. He said :
"Speaking of which, there’s Johntha now.
Looking for someone. I’ll bet. Wonder
who?”
Vella turned from Helmond’s arms and
went to Johntha.
"Like to dance with your sister?” she
asked brightly.
And Helmond stood and watched them
dancing with a huge question in his mind.
“I'll be darned,’’ he said under his breath.
"But Vella does show a lot of interest in that
big brainy lunk. And I’ll bet that neither of
them are aware of H.”
He was vSirotig. Barry knew, and it both-
ered him and pleased him simultaneously. . .
Tire TftANS-GALACriC TWINS
CHAPTER X
Angry Scientist
W ORK ON Vardun was naaring com-
plrtion when thQ? landed. Under
Htrry’i skillful supervision, tlie work leaped
iorward and as the d^s passed, each showed
definite progress. *fhc days added into
r^onths, and then two months Mssed, and in
the middle of the third month the suf^heric
set was being given its load tests. These
were more than satisfactory, and on the mor-
row, there would be a contplcte test of the
first interplanetary vnice-two-way.
The intervening hours were spent on the
ordinary coded communication means, de-
veloping times and procedures for this test.
A fell three-hour-period was spent merely in
•yiichronising the clocks between the two
planets. Perfect synchronization was impoe-
dUe because of t1te twelve minute time of
tranamiBsion. but an approximation was
•ide which was assumed to be close enough.
Still tired, but enjoying his moment of
■ iumph. Harry .stood at the Vardun end of
'he interplanetary beam and watched the
clock sweejjing around to the leru second.
This was his moment. This was compen-
:.tion for his decision back there in space a
.car ago and God knows how many mega-
rArsecs away, where he met Johntha’s mind
'I the darkness and sent the Trendan back to
Earth. He had given up a lot to feel assuied
that l^rth w’ould gain the stars. This was
compensation, for the successful culmination
of the job would make him truly famous and
financially independent for life.
He smiled to hlmaelf. Ho thought of how
«?
impossible It would have been if he hadn’t
treated his Earth life as a dream. Never
would he have gained the confidence of the
entire Terran System by insisting upon the
truth of hifl transposed personality. Now,
per!>^>s, he could spend the next few years in
delving into atomic physics, and perhaps he
could learn enough, and then add to that
enough, so that eventually he could point the
way for Trenda. also, to become an inter-
stellar race. It gave him pleasure to hope.
For though few people would ever know, he.
Tohntha-Barry. would be directly responsible
tor the start of — perhaps, if they weie in dif-
ferent galaxies — two complete galactic em-
pires.
A secret success, but none the less satis-
fying.
The old doubt still bothered him. His
meutal loss of the details of his atomic theory
made him wonder how the memory of the
man on Earth was enduring, Waa lie com-
pletely baffled? Was the Star Lady about to
drive into interstellar space, or was Johntha
still seeking through his clouded mind for
the secret of the snh-etheric wave mechanics
techinque?
Would Barry ever know?
The dial swept around to sero-zero, and
Barry pressed the button that started the
system. With a prayer that Johntha was cn-
jo^i^ an equal success. Barry faced the
'pfione and said : '
"Lengla? Lengla? Can you hear me?”
"Yes, Johntha. As clear as a bell."
"Good."
"But you spoiled it." said Lengla. and
chuckled.
"Spoiled it?” Barry asked. "How?”
"You should have said something truly
historic. This is an historic moment 1”
[Turn
A JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF LEGENDI
Summoned by voices from the past, Jay Seward assumes
the role of Jason in — THE MASK OF CIRCE, An
Epochal Complete Novel by HENRY KUTTNER
Faahiied in MAY
STARTLING STORIES
New On Sale — 148 Pages. Only 20e at All Standi!
THRILrUNO WONDER STORIES
S8
Barry thought £a«t- His hopes were on an
other planet unknown light years away. This
success was great, and everyone in the place
was slightly giddy with the happiness that
comes when several years of work turn up
to he a oomplete success Barry made an
historic .statement theti.
“To Perdition with History." he said.
Then he handed the phone to another, and
went to join Vella, who was standing there
with gladness in her face.
“Thanks to you,’’ he said directly and
honestly, “we made it."
H e took the credit and gave h to
Vella. He knew who was responsible.
For the real Johntha had planned very well
indeed, and he, in Johntha’s trained body,
had merely carried out the rest of Johntha’i
wislir.s to the letter, adding only a tew of his
own ideas. He could neither disclaim credit
aa the masquerader he was. nor accept it
honestly.
"Here.” he called to the man now trying
the instrument. “Move aside and let Vella
talk.”.
"But I did nothing.” she objected, “but
try to keep my brother happy.”
That, tliought Johntha. was plenty. . .
Doctor Edward wondered what the mat-
ter could he. He’d met Jim Evans on tlie day
of Barry's accident, and knew the man to b«
quick and resourceful. The call had been
urgent, made hy Jjm Evans’s a.ssistant. F.d-
wards hoped that Jim hadn’t fallen across
one of his own cicpcrimcnts- Edwards felt
entirely satiated with partial electroaitions.
But the order was imperious and he went.
He was shown into a lai^ laboratory as
soon as he gave his name, Jim Evans, ap-
parently, carried considerable weight in
place, for eveiything was dropped upon his
arrival.
“Oh,” he said, seeing Evans hale and
hearty, though excited. was afraid this
was a professional call.”
“Doc, you hit it right on the button. Never
a more professional call in your life. Look 1”
"What?”
“Oh. soTTv. This is strictly a new science
to us. too. l‘ve spent the entire night tinker-
ing with Barry’s cockeyed system. And I
don’t care whether he dreamt it up out of
electric shock or hasheesh. Blast it, it
works!”
“Works?” asked Edwards weakly.
“Definitely. Look. Doc. Do me a favor.
I want a shot in the arm to carry me. I'm
dead on my feet and I’ve got to continue for
the next few hours before I go beddy-by.
Can do?”
The doctor gave Jim Evans a hypodermic
that he said was guaranteed to keep him
ninniiig at high gear for a week, solid.
“I don't care if I sleep for a month after-
wards." said Jim. ‘T’ve got to get some more
figures. I'm cenain that taking some evidence
of success to Barry will get him all hepped
up and rarin' to go!’’
“Barry William*?” asked Doctor Ed-
wards.
“Look. Doc. That man is importanL He’s
even more important now that he’s unleashed
an inkling ot this. We’ve got to nurture
that — hallucination, and u'ater it and weed
it and reap it wlicn it’s grown to mau-siza.
Then Earth will grt*to the stars, and when
we get there, we'll be able to call back and say
we’ve arrived. This is as big as the Great
Pyramid. I’d suggest that you go back and
toil Barry that we’re working on it.”
"They took him to the sanitarium — ” Ed-
wards began.
"They what?” yelled Evans.
T he doctor explained. “I don't rive
a curse If he’s raving mad or thinks he's
Napoleon.” snapped Evans. "And did you
say electrotherapy? I.ncillel” he yelled.
"F’gosli sake, Lucille I Get Lincoln Sanitar-
ium on a Priorhy One and tell ’em that If
they touch Barrv Williams with a single volt,
rU burn their hides ! Crass stupidity !’’
“Now see here — ’’
“Yeah I” Jim Evans shouted harshly. "I
mean your gang. So what?”
“I’ll not have you interfering!”
"In this laboratory, you’re a dtizen, baf-
fled and ignorant, see?’’ said Evans with his
chin stuck out at Doctor Edwards. “I’m in a
position here to call upon the services of the
craziest idiot at large n he’s useful. Do you
realize that the man you’ve pronounced crazy
holds within his mind the secret of interstel-
lar travel ?”
“But — ah — I don’t understand."
"Ah. rats! You’ll addle his memory,
huh ?”
“ Look, young hothead, any man who fights
like a demon because people won't pamper
him in his preposterous story of transpo.«d
minds — ”
“Might as well have sontething to fight
about. I have, tool Yes. Lucille?”
THE TRANE- GALACTIC TWINS
"Mr Evans, the treatment has been
aiartcd."
Jim Evans took Doctor Edwards by the
coat lapels and thrust his chin Into the doc-
tor’s face and said;
"You are going over there right now and
«odo whatever Iw been fouled up by the
initial treatment, see?”
"I’ll try.” promised Edwards, trying to
•hake loose.
'‘I'm going along to see just how you try.
Get me?"
■ "I hofi# you are not — not — ”
"Crazy, too? Listen, Doc, I'm an elec-
tronics specialist. Being craiy is a prcreq*
oisite. Now' come along!”
Doctor Edwards afterwards remembered
a wild, crazy ride through the streets of the
eky at full speed. A siren wailed and cleared
thdr path, somehow. Jim Evaru skidded the
car for the last forty feet, bringing It to a
racketing stop at the sanitarium door. The
car was still oscillating on its frame as Jim
leaped out with the doctor in tow and banged
open thr front door.
'Tm Evans — Where’s Barry WllUams?”
he demanded of the information clerk.
"He’s teeing no—”
Jim lifted the man out of his chair by the
front of the white coat and »aid :
"We're seeing Williams or I'll take this
place apart.”
Men came running, but Jnn Evans faced
them in an attitude ot belligerency. That did
act bother them, for they were used to taking
care of men who wanted battle.
‘Tm Evans of the Star Lady." the tcien-
tiat said. "And if I’m crasy I don’t want to
b« cured, tee?”
One of them stopped and looked at the
doctor. Edwards snrugged, "Take us to
Williams.”
Evani and the doctor were carefully con-
voyed through the place to Johntha's rocan.
Tlw door was open^ and they filed in.
I^ntha was inert on the amall bed.
Evans looked down on the silent man and
aoered a string of curses.
"Electrotherapy puts them out for some
time, you know,” said Doctor Edwards
•faakily.
"Okay,” said Evans. "If we can’t do nny-
Rimg constructive with him. well do it for
Mb. Get the stretchers and we’U hurry him
itodt to the elcctric-suwcal room at the boe-
taM. Then you and 1, Edwards, will wait
b him to awake."
"How much?" asked Edwards of one of
the attemlants.
"The initial treatment. MoRtly trial to set
a threshold level,”
T he medical man stared thoughtfully at
the scientist. "There’s hope." said Ed-
wards. "Not much, but some. Trouble la
that he’s been shocked before, by the falling
car-line feeder.”
"Maybe that gave him a bit of immunity.”
"T doubt it. But speculation ia futile now.
Evans, I’ll do anything I can."
"Good. Let's try everything.’’
With a worried look on his face, Jim
Evans watched the completely inert form of
Barry Wiliiwns. harboring the intelligence nf
Johmha, lifted to stretchers, and carried to
the ambulance.
Luckly, the orig^inal room was still vacant
at the hospital. With Barry installed, Jim
and the doctor started a long vigil. . . .
Hours later, Johntha stirred, at long last.
“Whft~where — ”
"You’re awakening again," said Jim
soothingly.
»Bu-l— ”
"Eaay. Barry. Yoji’re all right.”
He looked up at them blankly.
"Remember the Star Ladyf" prodded
Evans.
"Yah — good ship. Wha — ”
"The atomic engines?’' asked Barry.
"Yah, the atomic engines. Burned up
Shame."
"But you’ve got the answer."
"Ah — to whad?” came the thick reply.
"To the S'for Lady's engines.”
"Evans," said the doctor, "this is difficult.
Electrotherapy at first makes memory diffi-
cult. Things decay quickly. A thought im-
pressed upon the mind a moment ago is re-
membered sketchily as though a month or
more had passed between then and now.”
"And Heaven only knows how far liark
the Star Lady is?” growled Evans.
"I’m afraid so.”
"It wears off?"
"The initial treatment ia less rigorous.
Perhaps in a few hours he may be able to
think clearly again.”
Barry stirred. "Engines.” he said thickly-
"Get to stars. Man — great man. Gave up
hit own chance and I've failed him.”
"No!” shouted Evans. “You didn’tl”
Edwards was puzzled. "He has a fuiatioe
on that. It is almost fruhtening. Yet it alone
40 THRnXING WONDER STORIES
might be strong enough to penetrate despite
the trcatiiicnt. Continue on that line,
Evans.”
“Anything you say. Doc,” said Jim. Then
to Johntha he said: “Force fields? Barrier
potentials ? Remember, The atomic en-
gines?”
“Uli. Sub-ether force fields in engine,
Soracthing about Barry Williams. A fine
fellow. Loves my sister. He — ” but the
man’s voice trailed off again.
“Williams has no sister,” said Evans posi-
tively.
“Then what is he talking about?"
“Perhaps,” said Evans sliarply, “this
Chonihrad character — the one he’s swapped
minds with — has a sister!”
Doctor Edwards sat down weakly. “1
can’t believe it,” he said.
“Can you believe the worth of a working
science, completely against all Earthly tech-
niques?”
‘T’d prefer not to consider it too deeply,”
objected Edwards. “How can men change
minds ?”
“I don’t know- — nor care. Ask your bril-
liant Doctor Hammond.”
“You’re not being vindictive.”
J IM EVANS scowled. “Look, Doc, this
isn’t hay we’re playing with. I don't
care a hoot whether Barry has swapped
minds or what he knows is a first-class pipe
dream, complete with a gawjuss gal to round
out the little tale. All I’m interested in is
the end-product. Tliat’s ail anyone on Earth
cares about. I'm in on the ground floor be-
cause I happened to hear Barry's muttcrii^s
and happen to be crazy enough to try it. So
it works. Now I want more.”
“Y-you — ^you’ve tried it?” stammered Ed-
wards.
"Doctor, tliey didn’t take off on four-hour
spinal operations two days after they dis-
covered anesthesia, did they? It wasn’t Hcrt*
or Marconi who started the first country-
wide radio network. The Brothers Wright
didn’t accept their success at Kitty Hawk
and then go out to fly the Atlantic Ocean.
I’ve got a crude collection of cockeyed junk
back ill the laboratory that generate# a wave
of some sort. I have another collection of
junk that detects it. Give a wild Hottentot
a spark coil and a crystal detector, and he’s
got the rudiments of radio but he can't really
do anything about it but tickle one and won-
der why the other jumps. Yeah, there’s math
and there's mutterings about barrier poten-^B
tials and force fields but how docs a man gcB
looking for them in the dark? What lines doB
I follow?"
“I see. And you think that he knows the
answer?”
“You bet he knows I And I don't care
whether he dreamed it or is another man in
Barry’s skin — he’s predicted a new acienct
which has a sound basis of fact. I'm per-
fectly willing to assume that if his initia:
premise is correct, his more complex reason-
ing is at least entitled to rigorous and exten-
sive Investigation."
'T don’t know what we can do, though.'
complained the doctor.
“Just this: the !itar Lady is a large un-
dertaking. large enough for me, or Barry, ot
any number of other technical supervisori
on the job. to haul off and give orders of
couMilerable iiiagiiilude, orders which must
be carried out to the letter. I’m going to
make an official request that yon and you!
little brain-bt^, Hammond, deliver Barry
Williams to his laboratory in full possessior
of his senses within twenty -four hours!”
“It may be impossible!”
“Then,” said Jim Evans with a superior
look and a nice-naaty grating sound iii his
voire, “there'll be a devil of a lot of clever
explaining to be done.”
The doctor scowled. “High handed meth-
ods will not get you anywhere !”
"Doc, don't make me mad again,” warned
Evans. “As for high-handedness, remember
the doctors were high-handed when they
shoved him in the calabozo. Without author-
ization you medicos have no more right to
tinker with the brain of a man like Barry
Williams than you have tinkering with the
mind of Sir Isaac Newton. Neither one of
’em thought conventionally. I'm going back
to work. Call me if he gets lucid.’’
CHAPTER XI
Deep Into Space
E vans left swiftly. Behind him. Doc-
tor Edwards was beginning to perspire,
Who could predict what kind of action!
would be taken by brilliant, slightly unstabk
men? He wondered about Barry Williams.
He'd never seen Williams when Barry hai
41
THE TRAKS-CALACnC TWW8
kb full faculties. Evans wa« quiet an<l easy
ntll he got steamed up, and from then
er.. Jim Evans was a wild man.
Doctor Edward* decided to let other shoul-
dern hold part of the load, and he picked up
i!<* telephone and put In a call to Hammond.
W»vl)c. he thought, he could pass a little
K sponsibilitv along to him.
' A week drargea by. and each day woul<l
■" " ! Evans at the hospital trying to urge Bar-
^ ■« mind into action. There was tmnrove-
---t. hut it was desperately slow. In the
f, l«if»tory. Jim lashed the medical men to
I ,:.ir efforts, all of them working stTictly
I the ^rk on trial and error and coming
i ' with bits and snivets of truth.
■f A corps of trained mathematicians toiled
-f r the Wlings. trying to untangle the thin.
.1 line of truth from the tangled and many-
ded akcin of possibilities. Each fact iin-
mhed in the laooralory was one more step
.. the right road.
Jim Evans came to this hospital dailv,
nngfng each day some news, some hope, to
- ! Barrv WilHami’s mind Into action.
• )• admitted to the patient that his tur>-
ddosion had he« true. They made
•fuse apologies.
The patient Johnlha’s, mind c!eare»l slight
but there was a hare that obscured the
. •ail*, ju. 1 t as there was obscurity over
'otha* mind, On Earth, however, tliis
!ure to recall details was attributed to the
• utsive action of hot-headed medicos and
?h Hammond and Edwards suffered the
^- .v* of scorn.
Though still Iwfudtlled about the sub-
'wric waves. Johntha returned to his job.
-ice his job apparently depended upon the
vdopment fit the sub-etheric wave me'
-nics. Johntha worketl with Jim Evan.v
He cuntribuled little but facilitv and dex'
-ty. No originality.
Yet he was more than helpful, for with hi>
rival, the trial and error proces.s of un-
-gling the facts became easier, Each .step
' each try was completely outlined to
I iintha. Then they would look expectantly
■ Johntha, who would sit and try to remcm-
-- In many case.s he would say a definite
, and the group would outline a next
When he said “yes” or “maybe” Ihcv
,’d ^rfnmi the experiment and see for
He was respoitsiblc for mountain.^ ul
e- pment. and upon his uncertain knowl-
r . f went the word to spend time, money
and material.
The months flowed past, and each day
saw Terra closer to their success. Johntha
still lagged, but he had that wliich Barry
Williams on far-off Tendra did not have —
Johntha had the confidence of his contempo-
raries. They were working on his theory.
He had the opportunity of studying as they
acted, atifl study he did. diligently- He
lagged, hut he learned.
Jim F.vans uncovered the facts about the
force field.s. and the Sfar Latiy projert took
shape. Jim's a.ssi.stant locat^ the hidden
knowledge of the Ijarricr potentials and they
were applied, haltingly at first hut with firm-
er decision as time and experience went on.
It was a twofold projert. As developments
came, tbev were entered simultaneously in
the proiect to reach the .stars ami a project
to communicate.
And so jHissed a solid year.
Not too long after that year was marked
off, Johntha. Jim Evan.s. and a corps of as-
sistants huddled down behind a massive liar-
rier, looking (hrongh telescope.s at the test-
stand a mile across the desert. lim Evans
was jiouriiig the power in. and Johntha was
reading niotcrs and making reconlings
M KADUAl.LY the power input rose ‘'it
by bit as Evans notched it up, and as
the critical level was achieved without sta-
bility. then exceeded, and surpassed to a
hundred percent factor of safety. Evans took
a deep breath.
“We’ve made it!” he shouted, cutting the
power “We’ve made it!” He went into an
Indian war dance and finally grabbed John-
thft by the hands and whirled him around
and around. There were cheers from the
crew and men congratulating one anerther
But Johntha was not too elated, and when
Jim Evans' own enthusiavin died sHghtlv. he
noticed the sober face of his fricml.
"Hey. Barry! We’re a howling success.
Q»er up. man I”
“It's ■not fair,” muttered Johntha.
Evans sobered instantly. "What isn't?"
he demanded.
Johntha smiled wistfully. “Remember
what this has all been based upon?”
Evans nodded. “The stuff you toM me
on that first day after the accident.”
Johntha nodded glunilv "I told it to you
before I went out. in mind, met the real
Barry, ami was sent back by him.”
"Great guys, both of ynut”
THRlLLma WONDEE STORIES
42
“But you don’t understand. Earth would
have achieved this if Bariy had returned at
that time. When he sent me back, you were
already experimenting, and our work was
really over. I've been of help, but far from
indispensable,’’
“And?”
“Had we known, Barr}’’s mind would not
be inhabiting my body. Earth would have
achieved the stars anyway, and perhaps —
well, who knows how far my home planet Is
from here?”
“I understand,” said Evans quietly.
"Look, fella. You and I are going out to
look for it I”
The days sped swiftly, now, for there was
far too much to do. The entire crew went on
a sixteen-hour day and a seven-day week,
catching sleep when they dropped in their
tracks and eating when a tiny breather broke
their day.
Jim Evans was tireless, and Johntha went
around somewhat helplessly trying to assist.
Johntha knew that his job should have been
the atomic engines. On straight theory, he
was using the right mind, but when the addi-
tion of the sub-etheric waves became neces-
sary, his Trendan knowledge had suffered,
and he was forced to rely upon Jim Evans’
help.
Evans was also running the project of
setting up the communications. And John-
tha’s mind was convinced that all Karthmen
were inclined to let nothing stand in their
way.
Then at last the Lady was ready — an
erect prolate spheroid of shimmering metal
standing on the jjiaceport awaiting the hand
of her master, "fhey entered the ship, and
Johntha paused to look at the bronze plaque
beside the door. Some attributed this
scrutiny to Johntha’s personal pride, and few
knew tliat he was paying tribute to the man
in whose body he — Johntha — lived.
They entered the shin and dosed the door.
Then before the eyes of a million people and
the lenses of a thousand cameras and icono-
scopes, the Star Lady disappeared. A swirl-
ing column of dust raced in and follow^ the
invisible ship high into the air, and even out
into space itself.
A year later they found a discarded candy
wrapper in Iran ; a scrap of a California
newspaper in Siberia ; and some semi-trop-
ical leaves — quite dead— on the ice-cap of
Antarctica.
Up into space she went and into the black-
ness. Earth dwindled from a sphere into a
lost mote in the distance, and the scintiliating
sun dwindled in minutes to where they could
look into its disc without harming the eyes.
Then it blacked out, disappearing with the
rest of the stars and the Star Lady was ar-
rowing through the vast reach of interstellar
space. Time became meaningless as the
velocity of the Star Lady mounted upwards
into the unthinkable velocities that could only
be expressed in multiplied functions of the
speed of light,
H ours later. Arcturus streaked past at
less than a billion miles. It was a long,
almost instantaneous flash, that extended
from far ahead to far behind in an insignifi-
cant fraction of time and then was gone.
More hours fled by and other stars made
their streaks again.st the sky. Then, satisfied,
the Star Lady decelerated and came to a rela-
tive stop, floating in the void many light
years from any star. Her speed was approx-
imately zero with respect to Sol. For the
rest, they did not care.
"Now," said Jim Evans. “Let’s call home
and tell ’em we're cooking with helium 1”
Tom Adler grinned and fired up the sub-
ether communications job. He toyed with it
a bit, and then the tuning indicator illumi-
nated brilliantly.
“Go ahead,” he said to Jim. “Have the
dubious honor of being the first character
to shoot the breeze over a few hundred light
“Thanks,” drawled Jim. “Shall it be
'What hath God wrought' or ‘Guess who I
"Make it — huh. what’s that?"
"Sounds like chop sucy to me. Are youl
on our right band?” ’
“What's the right band?” asked Adler.|
“I'd like to know more about this stuffi
before you tie me down and take to quotingl
me.” ‘ *
"Well, is it tuned properly?" I
“The indicator says we're on a transmit-1
ting station.” \
‘‘Shut up,” said Johntha. He listened. Thcl
sounds were familiar, and they entered B«-
ry's ears, bypassed Bary’s brain, and came
to complete understand^ing with the mind
that lived there.
“To Perdition with History,” he repeated
in English after Johntha had spoken his un-
historic words.
“That's what I’ve always said,” grinned
THE TRANS-<SALACnC TWINS 43
BTanj. "But what — "
“That’s — my home planet,” Johntha said
tlowly. “Barry’a mlad did finish my job — on
Trend*.”
"Uml Sure?”
“I know my own language, don’t I?”
"Ought to.”
"Can we answer ’em?” asked Johntha.
"We can fling out a signal, but unless
they’re listening to this band, we might as
well whistle into space. Go ahead.”
"Barry Williams!” called the man into
the microphone. "Barry Williams, this is the
Star Lady!"
They listened, but there was no break 3n
the conversation. “Barry Williams!” called
the man again. And again ; and agtun and
again.
“Look,” said Adler. “Maybe you can un-
derstand their chop suey. D ye expect them
to understand yours?”
“One them will,” said Barry.
Jim Evans nodded bleakly. He — under-
stood. finally. He believed, and the evidence
Itil him witli as much force as any physical
blow.
Then Johntha said hopelessly, "They're
all set up for commercial interplanetaiy com-
nimiicatious, They'll not explore the entire
spectrum. Can we match their hand ?”
"Not from out here. It'll take a re-deslgn
job on the transmitter.”
"Oh,” said Jolmtha sorrow'fully.
“Blit, blast it. Adler i Slap the direction
finder on them! If we can’t talk to ’em
by ’phone, we'll track 'em down and make
’em listen to us face to face!”
"Check!" said Adler.
CHAPTER XII
Fusion Of Th* Minds
ASTILY HUNTING around, Jim
Evans found a small model of tlie
galaxy.
. “This thing has all the precision of a two-
' dollar spectroscope,” Adler growled. “How
many light years’ error in two percent ac-
curacy is possible from a galactic scale
model?”
"Triangulate us into the volume,” said
Johntha. "From there on, we’ll be in fair
shape.”
"Okay. Evans, here’s th* first line.
G-Twenty-seven ; declination south, twelve
degrees; Azimuth, one four three; point,
two-two-seven. Subtract whichever is the
larger—”
“Income tax lizard, ” growled Evans, run-
ning the line through th* model.
The Star Lady turned on her minor axis
and fled at right angles to the previous line
of direction. An hour — two - three she sped
ah many times the speed of light. Then
decelerated to stop and make another "fix.”
A third vector was added to the first two, and
the resulting lines enclosed a small volume.
Pointing her head down on the last line of
the direction, the Star Lady packed on the
acceleration and arrowed toward Trends.
More time passed in headlong flight.
Then —
Jim Evans scratched his head, “So we’re
here. How do you make a door to door can-
vass of a stellar system when no one speaks
their language, and only one guy understands
theirs?”
"You forget.” Barry said with a smile.
"This is my home. Follow me!”
Ey^s looked about the ship. “Uh-buh,”
he-pinned. “We'll be in a mess if we don’t.
Wlutlier away?”
Across the system went the .Slnr Lady.
Down upon the third planet it dropped, and
it streaxed across the sky until Johntha
pointed down.
“Right in that hack lawn.” he said with
a chu^le.
The Star Lady landed gently. The landing
floods burned the scene into alinost-daylight,
and Johntha and Jim Evans got out of the
shm.
'^Home!" said Johntha.
"Stop it,” said Jim, "You’re making my
head spin.”
"Yaur head?” a.<iked Johntlia solemnly.
"Stick around, fella. I'm about to shake
hands with me!”
On Trends, Barry Williams had awak-
ened, vaguely troubled, vaguely expectant.
Something was about to happen. Bad ? He
didn’t know. Good? He could hope so. But
bad or good or indifferent, there was tension
— undefinahle — something unknown charg-
ing^the air? Barry did not know what it wag.
For the Erst time since that day so long
ago. he missed the opportunity of smoking.
He arose and went out to the library, un-
certain of what he wanted. He snapped on a
small light and looked at the backs of books.
u TIlRtLLING VrOffDCR mOftlSB
He i.tumpreseed. uninterested in any
that acre there. He went into the kitchen
ar.' raided the refrigerator idly, toying with
the idea of really setting \ip t minor meal.
That did not interest him too much either.
He — heard a noi.se and turned.
“Vella,” he said.
“Wliat'.s the matter?” she asked.
“I'm vaguely troubled. ’’
“Over what?"
"I don’t know.”
"An unrest, a worry?"
“Something of that nature," he said to
her.
“Anything I can do?"
“I don’t know. I’m bewildered.”
“Can't sleep ?”
He shook his head.
“Might take an opiate." she suggested.
“Afrai<! to." he laughed nervoiiHlv. “1
might miss
“Miss wtet?”
“Whatever is abont to happen.”
"Is somerhing abont to happen?” she
8sked« wondering.
H e put botli hands on her shoulders,
and said. "VeUa. have you ever feiU 6~
Foreboding about the future, and you didn't
know why ?”
She nodried
“Well, that’s it!”
“flnf what ran we do?” .she asked.
“There's no use in sitting around watting.”
“Vella, whatever happens from here on
in. 1 want you to know that I — ”
JJghts blazed outside, illuminating the
neighborhood. It was as a sudden flash as of
lightning, and if there were no sound. Bar-
ry's mind supplied the b!a.st of thunder. He
forgot to finish what he was sayir<g- He
leaped to the window. Then to the door
at full speed.
The Kcnc before him struck tiomc. The
Star LoJy surrounded by the diaphanous
veil of her o«ti flood lights. He stootl in the
doorway breathing deeply, his llirctat cboketl
with emotion. His eyes smarted and tears
welled and ran down his clieeka unnoticed.
“Johntha,” said Vella, frightened. "What’s
that ship?”
“This is it.” he said in a choked-off
tone.
“Barry Williamsl” called the foremost
figure.
"Johntha! ' replied the man in the door-
way.
lohnths, who 4 that?" breathed Vella.
Trendan and Earthman faced one another
uncertainly. “You did It,” said the man In
the doorway.
The new arrival nodded. "It was not all
my doing,” he said sadly, “Jim Evans got
the details — the evening before you sent me
back ! '
Evans shook his head. “You shouldn’t
have dropped thal so suddenly," he said.
Vella looked from one to the other. '‘Youll
— ^ytni unrleratand them?” |
Her supposed brother nodderl. "1 under- 1
stand them — and he understands us." j
The newcomer nodded at this. |
“You understand me?" she demanded oil
the Terran.
Again he nodded
“Can I understand voti?” |
A «hake of the head.
“Biif who are you?"
Her <utppose<l brother turned, liut the
stranger said : "If she does not know wait.”
"Put whv should I wait?”
"Wait for what'” askerl \’ella Sh<» lotdied
at the stranger and smiled. Parry «w that
smile and it hurt He shriilH he in his own
bodv. Then — but how rniild if he accotn
plished.
“Well." said the stranger, hnfieftilly,
"we'rr both famous even if we are a little
mixed I congratulate youl”
“You've done a grand job, Johntha.”
Vella took her supposed brother hy the j
shoulder.s and turned him to face her. j
"Just who are you?” she demande<I “You I
call him Johntha. He understands me. and I
you unrlerstand both of them. Now ex i
plain.
“Inside,” aaid Barry, and Johntha trana- |
tated for the other Earthmen. They all
entercrl the house, and Johntha roamed about
the place with easy familial ity.
Then Barry Williaiiik explained, coinpleti;- :
ly, and fully. He umitted nothing! and found
that l.is verbal inertia, once srarted, swept ■
him tlirough the details of his own feeling
for her, through his own fears and heartaches
over the Star Lady and his worry about the
loss of memories. He spent a soliil hour at
it, aiK'. when he was finished, he -•wi lack and
said, glumly;
"Now wc’rc finished. A sm- t-ws. Now
what?”
B arry got up from lus chair and went
to the door to look once more at the
THE TBANS-GALACnC TWINS
f»ar Lady. Now, he thought fooU^I^, he
Wild find out whether the shutters were
lin«d from above or from either side.
‘Xook, feJla,” said Johntha. “There must
be some way.”
"You name it.” said Barry, still looking
out of the door with his back to them.
Jim Evans grunted in embarrassed erao-
tkm. Here were two of the finest men ever
treated, caught in their own desire to do
ight. And between them was a woman,
a^oally at the odd ends of an emotional
angle. For the man she coold marry
»ot}ldn't treat her m any way but as a
Woilicr, while the man who loved her was
iimilarly bound.
The Eartbman arose from his easy chair
and went over to stand beside the Trendan.
'I’m — deeply concerned, Barry,” he said,
"So,” said die other "what^jan
do about it?” He gave a sour smile resign
ostioa and then looked at the Star Lady.
"You did a wonderful fob.”
“Me?” exploded the Tcrran. “Barry,
that's all yours." He slapped the Trendan on
tlie shoulder affectionately.
The contact did it. Both minds were in
wrong bodies, and like a captured proton, im-
prisoned in a potential well, each mind had a
definite probability of escape whi^ would
reduce the overall potential. Like the twang-
ing of a string, the contact reduced the con-
fining potential of the wells, and llie minds,
each with greater binding force for the prop-
er body, snapped into their proper places.
At once, Johntha was Tohntha and Barry
Williams was Barry Williams. They turned
back to the other men. and in their faces was
the truth.
Jim Evans looked and shtxik his head glad-
ly. ‘‘Well,'' he said, “we've lost an inter-
But the two that really coimted did not
need an Interpreter.
3o recast for iL %rl J..
W HEN a couple of exiles from the Space Marines and a group of plant men from Mars
and Vdos get together, MR. ZYTZTZ GOES TO MARS in the unaaing novel of that
by Noel Loomis. An extraordinary bitd's-ey# view of the future— m a saentiliction
treat par CKeUetKe!
/^OPS! The weather again! But— its June in January in CLIMATE, INCORPORATED.
L/ by Wesley Long, when young scientist James Tennis takes the matter m hand in one
of the cleverest novelets we've ever offered you!
N ovelty is the keynote of William Tenn's novelet, THE IONIAN CYCLE also tea*
hired next issue, in which a little knowledge of the facts of life on Earth hel^s a sp^
aew stranded on a satellite. You'U find this a space-exploring yam whuh is truly ditterent.
«ou know tliat certain inaoimatc cbjects have memories.' So many believe
-and this thesis is the inspiration of a grand novelet, MEMORY, by Theodore btut*
which completes the roster of next issue's headliners.
E ntertaining and unusual ^ott sAnes. by some of your favorite writers, will, of
course, be added to round out an exceptional nuodjcr packed with distinguished fiaioti
from cover to coverl
R eaders, a* usual, wiU have their say in tha dqiaitment — THE READER SPEAKS— a
feature which is constantly growing in popularity. All in all. our next issue will be Oft*
well worth while— look forward to It!
D”
geon. '
WAY OF ESCAPE
WSan, 5 D«»pi.
Staiford seeks surcease from his worldly cares in a
Universe that shares space and time with the Earthl
T he young man leant upon the
black-gray parapet gazing up-river
towards the Gothic apikes of the
Houses of Parliament in silhouette against
a yellow aud red autuuui sunset. Some-
thing in his attitude caused Dr. Stafford to
pause.
This young man was in a stare of extrone
tension. He was screwing himself up to go
through with something unpleasant. As Staf-
ford watched, the young man, with delibera-
dcin, aet tils right foot upon the ledn of the
wall’s skirting and placed his hands iimly
upon the slightly convex top of the parapet.
WAT OF
At which moment Stafford tapped hhn on
* ihoulder and said, “You'll find the water
ry cold and your struggle in it more pro-
bcted and painful than you anticipate.''
Tlie young man started, then relaxed and
tned. He was not quite so young as
afford had imagined. He was nearing the
iddle thirties, tliere were streaks of gray
his temples and his eyes had a hunted and
ipeless look. Nevertheless, he retained
■mething of the self-control of the educated
With a certain dignity he answered,
'Possibly. But what alternative is there?”
“I can gpve you an alternative," said
Stafford, leaning against the parapet in a
conversational attitude.
“I don't think so."
Stafford gave him his card.
"Dr. S. E, Stafford ?" said the other man.
'Well, my name's Raines. So you're a
‘octor, ell? Perhaps you can give me an
Itemative. Say an overdose of morphia or
rnnal.”
"I’m a Doctor of Physics," pointed out
Stafford.
"Oh '--you physicists have something to
iswcr with your atomic bombs and
ockets." This with some bitterness.
I did some work on atomic energy." said
Stafford, reflectively. “My purpose was
iTlly the curiosity which leads research
arkers on, partly a desire to release atomic
lergy to replace man's dwindling resources
coal and gasoline. I had no interest in
making big hangs, Only the monkey men
iwng us seem to want to do that."
''Then you should keep such discoveries
at of their hands."
"My dear {ellow, if an inventor designed
Kh an innocuous thing as a pair of nut-
■mckers to save these monkeys breaking
idr jaw-8, the first thing the monkeys would
would be to find a way of using them to
evciyonc else’s heads. Their reason-
g is. you see. that if th^ didn't, then
eryone else would steal thdr nuts."
"There’s plenty of nuts for everyone in
e world.”
“True. You see that and I sec that. But
n anyone persuade them to see that? No,
ey're niotivsted wholly by greed and sus-
oon. which in shnrt means fear -fear of
H. You can’t persuade people by reason
bo think on a plane of emotion. You can’t
> on common ground with them. By the
ly, you sound much too reasonable a per-
ESCAPE 47
•on to be attempting suicide."
“It's because I'm reasonable tliat I’m com-
mitting suicide,” said Raines gloomily. “In
a fit of temporary sanity. You sec. I can’t
be happy and I can’t work — I’m an artist—
unless I have peace of mmd.
“This world has become fear obsesjed.
You /ran’t escape the atmosphere. Everyone
about you is nursing some fear or collection
of fears. Fear of poverty, fear of loss of
money or health or emploj-mcnt. Fear of
criticism, fear of failure in the success race
to accumulate money, power, prestige.”
"Think you're exaggerating,” said Staf-
ford.
The other ignored him, and continued:
“Overriding everything, the fear of yet
another world war. I can’t feel that my life
or my work mean an}-thine at all with the
threat of an atomic rocket dropping on it at
any moment. And that's what your unteach-
abie monkeys are going to do. you know.
Their nature is unalterable. I'm sick — sick!"
he repeated savagely, “of bring under the
sword of Damocles.’^
“Most of your generation must be. with
two world wars within only lialf a lifetime
and another already threatening. So you
are seeking peace of mind in death? Don't
you think there are any other ways of
escape?"
"No," said Raines. "No good dodging off
to remote Pacific islands in the next war. It
wasn't much good in the last. There’ll be no
safe place in the world next time. 'ITiere'll
even be air battles over the North Pole. It 'll
be touch and go whether some fools don't
manage to blow the whole planet apart."
"Quite." said Stafford. “You’ve hit upon
ray own fear obsession there. I feel much as
you do, I want some place to continue my
rcscarcli work in j>eace and with some assur-
ance of time to get re.sults. And I don't want
it monkeyed with any more. I think I may
have found such a place. If you would ac-
company me home. I'll explain."
Raines hesitated.
“You’ve nothing to lose and thafwater's
still cold." said Stafford.
"All right then." said Raines, slowly.
S TAFFORD'S home was an ugly but
roomy house in one of the squares
south of the Eustnn Road. Most of the base-
ment had been knocked into aprivate work-
shop. The rest of tlie house above it was
one great mass of books, in which small
48 THRH.IJNG WOTWER STORIES
irMS had b«en cleared to fit in a few chairs,
a table, and a conple of beds. Stafford
shared the house with a frieod, a philosopher
named Conmian. and the pair of them lived
like mice gnawing out their own living
spare.
Corninaa* bad a low forehead, heav^.
C minent brows, brown eyes deep-set and
je bowed shoulders. At first glance be
might well have been one of those classed
by Stafford as "monkeys.*’ In actual fact,
he was the antiilicsis. Moreover, he had a
sense of humor — indeed, it was the thing be
prized above all his considerable intellectual
gifts.
When be heard Stafford’s introduction
and explanation of Raines he laughed
deeply, like an operatic Mephisiopheles.
"My friend," he addressed Raines, "you
take life loo seriously. Everybody does, ft’s
all very funny if you stand hack far enough
to get a view of things whole. The world's a
circus. And mail is a mixture of trained
seal, trapeze artist, wild animal and down.
Mo^v down.
"The spectacle of him getiine up to the
most elaborate and ingenious uncles with
an air of immense seriousness, dignity and
self-riKlitCQUiness. to avoid looking any facts
in the face, is an inexhaustible amusement."
"Perhaps it was once," said Raines.
"Nowadays he doesn't throw custard pies but
atomic and bacteriological bombs and the
audience gets the beiicnt of thera too."
"All the more fun," said Cornman, with
a deep chuckle.
"We don't happen to be philosophers,
Corny,” said Stafford. "We want to go
somewhere and work quietly. Otherwise
our lives don’t mean a thing. Raines here
doesn’t think there’« anywhere to go. A*
you know I think there is.”
"If you're thinking of rocketing to another
planet in the Solar System," said Raines,
"you might as well forget it. It won’t be
long before our monkeys come rocketing
after you. bringing their circus."
"My idea,” said Stafford, seating himself
on a pile of volumes of a technical diriion-
ary. "is that of an escape through time.”
"Past or future?” queried Raines and
added. "Not that it matters. I’m convinced
tliat lime travel is paradoxical and quite im-
possilile in a physical sense. And 1 can't
paint iiklurea in niy astral body, you know."
"I lielicve time to be iRtcrmittcnt,’’ said
Stafford. "Its smooth continuity is only an
illusion tlirough the manner of prcaentatlors,
like the separate pictures on a movie film.
I believe w'e exist in a series of spasms,
"One minute the world and ail its beings U
there. Then it's plunged Into complete non-
existence for a spell. Then abruptly it exists
again. And so on. Naturally, we are only
cognizant of the spells during which we
exist. Thus our existence teems continuous
to us.*'
"Quite an interesting little theory, but 1
can't see that you can gel any facts to sub-
stantiete it," commented Raines.
"Are you a mathematician?” asked Staf-
ford and Raines shook hi^ head.
"Pity," said Stafford. "I've worked out a
beautiful thesis to prove that the nature of
time, like light and gravitation, is dectro-
magnetic- A wave motion, as it were, and
we exist on th«.,CTe&ts of the waves but not
in the troughs.”
Comman laughed abruptly at some fancy
and sang in a rumbling bass, "My bonny lies
over the ocean . .
“Assuming it to be true, then what about
it?” asked Raines, a little impatiently. "I
still don't see — "
Comman broke off his song to interrupt,
"Can’t you perceive, my dear young man.
that Moses here believes that the Promised
Land lies in the interstices of the lime we
know? A sort of jigsaw puzzle world fitted
into the ga|i8 of ours.”
R .'UNES looked rjuestioningly at Staf-
ford. The latter smiled rather dapre-
catingly.
"In general, that's the idea." he sakl.
"We exist for a space, then don't for a
space. Immediately we cease to exist,
another world flashes into existence. Than
ie in its turn ceases to exist, while we flaab
back for our period again, and to on alter
nalely. Both worlds imagine thdr own tiiiK
is continuous and unbroken. ”
"H’m,'’ said Rainea, thoughtfully. "An
ingenious extension of your theory hut
stul — no facts.”
"And that's where you’re wrong," said
Stafford, rising. "Come and see my
machine.”
He led Raines along a passage to a room
on the ground floor. Lornmari follow^
them leisurely, lighting a big black cigar.
The room cumained nothuw but an ebon-
ite cuntrul panel on a niakesliitt table — a clr-
cuiax black pedestal in the center of the
jor. R few inches high and a couple of feet
diameter, surrounded by a ring of bright
3f>per — and a twin to this pedestal, but
tverted, fixed to the ceiling directly alrovo
: A delta of cables from the panel were
■ihered into a bunch Md thnist through a
ole in the bare plank nooring.
Pointing the latter out. Stafford said :
They go to my power units in the base-
sent. That’s where the bulk of the machine
I really. But this converter here is tlie
nportant part, It has to be on ground level,
br it* seems that ground level is tlie same in
the other world as here. If I had put this
downstairs with the rest, then passengers
converteti to the other time would also be
converted into corpses interred in the
ground.”
‘'Without even a burial service,” put in
Cornman, complacently.
"I'm not going into details about this, for
it would take a layman a month of Sundays
to get even a glimmering of wliat happens,”
said Stafford. "Briefly, any person placed
on that black disc can be subjected to a
barrage of electro-magnctlc waves of exactly
opposite pitch, though of similar intensity, to
those whidi at present determine his exist-
ence.
"As is well-knowTi in physics two oppos-
ing wave systems will cancel out into a uni-
form line. That is, non-existence. hTon-
cxistcnce is the frontier between our world
and this other. When that is attained, it only
Deeds a slight pusli or boost of power for
the subject to be edged over the border-and
be caught up by the other time system."
‘Tltat'll do,” said Raines. “Technicalittes
bore me I tak^it you want to use me as a
guinea pig?”
"Oh. the thing works all right,” said
Stafford, rather quickly. “Only — ”
"Onl)' Stafford is a scientist,” said Com-
tnan drily. "He doesn’t approve of blind
risks. He likes to make doubly sure that be
is standing on Arm ground baore he takes
the next step. The scientific method, they
call ft."
"It's merely that I don’t want to step out
of the frying pan into llio rire," said Staf-
ford. ‘Tm the only person who knows this
machine well enough to operate it, It needs
' hair-trigger adjustment and lightning lian-
diing. I? I send anyone through it I can
bfiog tliein back. But if I got anyone to send
cne through it it would be most unlikely that
could bring me back.
"Once anyone has crossed the border, so
to speak, it's the deuce to get them back on
our wave erects. They will «tay there for
the rest of their lives if the operation is not
f rformed faulflesriy. When I make the trip
shall be committrf.”
"You intend to go then asked Raines.
"It depends. I want to take all niv manu-
scripts with me and settle down in this other
world to continue my research. But first I
wajit to make certain it will be possible to
settle down there. I want to know what sort
of people they arc.”
'^T don't think there's enough meat on you
to tempt a cannibal," said Cornman, humor-
ously.
“What makes you think there are people
there?” asked Rmnes. "Come to that, you
haven’t even convinced me that tiiere is
another world.”
S TAFFORD rummaged in a drawer in
the table supporting the control panel,
He found a thin wad of photographs and
passed them to Raines. As the latter looked
through them, Stafford explained.
"1 have sent various objects into that
world and brought them l«ck. First a
chronometer, to determine the wave-pitch,
as it were — that is, the duration of the inter-
vala of our alternating existences. It turned
out to be surprisingly long. ,
"You'll be interested to learn that every
twenty-two days, four hours, eleven minutes,
forty-three seconds this world of ours ceases
to exist for just that same length of time.
Only, as we cease to exist too, we don’t
notice it. Next, I sent a camera throt^h
several times, with a delayed action shutter
act for a different delay each time. You*!!
notice that some of those photos are taken in
daylight and others at night."
Raines studied them. The site of the
camera was obviously always the same, but
not the direction It was facing. This site
seemed to be somewhere on a rolling grassy
plain set with rare trees. Aliout two miles
distant was a city walled on the scale cd
ancient Babylon. But the towers showing
above the mighty walls were certainly not
Babylonian. ’They were of bright metal and
many-windowed.
The night views showed these windows
lighted and a little thrill went through
Raines when he rulized that this probably
meant the city was inhabited. Who were
the inhabitants? What kind of life were
THRUXINO WOKDElt STOKIES
SO
they? A sense of wonder ^ew and poseeascd
him.
He became a child aj;ain with an imagi-
native inward eye. gazing upon the strange
end glittering worlds evoked by Well.s. It
made it the more exciting to realize that this
was DO tale of fantasy. These phot^raphs
he held in hit hands were acluai views of
another world, hitherto unseen and unsus-
pected by man.
Some of the views showed a white, wide
road curvii^ across the plain towards the
city. On one of them the camera had caught
a small open car of some sort cti the road.
There were two small black dots showing
above the top of the car. The heads of the
occi^pante? It looked remarkably like It.
Raineg had come out of his weary indiffer-
ence. fie was really interested now.
"This is worth investigating,” he said. “I
wonder if the atmosphere there is breatii-
able lor us?"
"It is.” said Stafford. "I tent three
rabbits across. I got two of them back in
the best of health. They had fed well on the
grass. The third was dead.”
“Dead?”
"Yes. It had obviously wandered on to
the road and been run over by tome vehicle.
The mark of the wheel was plain upon h.”
He picked up a glass flask with a clockwork
mecitantsm bound to it.
"Tve been tending through gadgets, like
these to get samples of the air," he con-
tinued. ‘Virst creating a vacuum In the
flask, of courie. The clockwork is a time
mechanism which unetopt the flask, then
stope it up again,
"I’ve got a gauge fixed to one of them. It
shows the atmospheric pressure to be the
same as ours — fourteen and a half pounds
per Sifitiare inch. And the composition is
much the same. It’s rather purer, in fact.”
'‘Could you demonstrate sending and get-
ting back one of those things I" asked
Raines.
"Tliere are only set rimes for such demon-
strations as that," said Stafford. "Th^
occur every twenty-two days, four hours,
eleven mimrte.c, forty-three seconds. That is.
at the very end of our period of existence
and the i>eginning of the next world's turn.
At this moment I could only send the flask
into non-existence for just now the other
world is non-exi.sfent. The next switch
moment actually occurs tomorrow morning
at ten-four. 1 was hoping — ”
"You were hoping to send me, and no
just a flask.” said Raines. "Otherwise ytni’l
nave to wait another twenty-two days ti
send me. It’s alt right. T don’t really nee<
any demonstrations. If the machine Rniaha
me it will save the Thames the job."
"That’s wliat Stafford thought,” sai<
Cornman with a sort of benign blnntneas.
m T THREE MINUTES part ten the
next morning Raines, carrying satch-
els of concentrated food sufficient for three
weeks, a slung water bottle, toilet articles
and a sketch-book (he had refused to take
weapons), mounted the black pedestal.
"Let me get this dear before i go,” he said.
"You are sending me for just one interval,
that if. for the pitch of one wave — twenty-
two days. And it doesn't matter where I
wander in the other world, this thing will
snatch me back to this spot."
"If I enn manipulate the controls cor-
rectly,” said . Stafford, his gaze fastened
Upon a chronometer, his hands poised. "I
haven't failed yet. Seven seconds to go."
"Kight. Shoot.” said Raines.
"Our roving reporter — ” liegan Comman,
and was interrupted by the deafening whip-
ping and craemng rf blue-white electric
flasnes darting up and down twisted paths
through the air between the copper ring on
the floor and its opposite number on the
ceiling.
Cornman turned hia eyes from the
brilliance, and glimpsed Stafford, his face
tense with concentration, running his
firyfers like a high-speed it-pisi over sliding
resistances, buttons, switches and the milled
knobs of dials. Jiwt for second or so—
then Stafford froze, the cracking ceased with
a snap that banish^ the leaping shadows.
And Cornman became aware that his ears
were ringing and that there vras a smell of
ozone. Because of this temporary deafness,
Raines' voice sounded faint to him. He
didn’t get the import of it. It sounded like
"IdlmstfgtnidtcmUi.”
Me swung round and blinked to behold
Raines standing on the little pedestal in a
long robe of a yellow so vivid it almot
stated the eye.* Raines liad grown a littli
pointed beard, he waa smiling, hia eyes wen
full of a serene amusement. He steppet
down and gripped Stafford's hand.
"It's great!" he said enthusiastically
"You’ll have to come over there. I neve
dreamed before that such bliss was possible.'
WAY or
Stafford’s tired eyes lighted up.
"Kothing to worry about?” he asked.
"Worry!" ?nid Raines with a snort.
"Nobody there knows the meaning of the
word. Hello. Corninan. heard any good
jokes lately ?”
"Hello." responded Comman. "What was
that word yo\i used the moment you
arrived? Something in your blissful friends’
language ?’’
"Their language is English,” smiled
Raines. "Only through usage it lias devel-
oped into a kind of verbal shorthand. The
vowels have mostly been dropp«l. and more
degrees of expression put into the con-
sonants. Civiliaation speeds up thought
processes.
"People here are already thinking faster
than they can speak. It’s logical to expect
speech to take short cuts. W^t I said was
'I had almost forgotten I had to come back.’
Believe it or not, I’ve gnt so in the way of
speaking like that these last few weeks that
1 feel 1 am speaking painfully slowly and
deliherately now."
'Tret’s go and sit down in the other room
and let you tell us the story,” said Stafford.
"I take it this other world is higher up the
Kale of civilization than ours?” he flung
over his shoulder as he led the way.
"Way up,” said Raines.
"Thin^ swam about me for a moment,”
•aid Raines, beginning his narrative. "I
seemed to drop a few inches — the heirtt of
the pedestal. I expect — and then I found
myself standing on that grassy plain shown
in your photo in bright sunlight. And there
was the walled city, a couple of miles away,
"The road was but a hundred yards off.
I I gained it and started walking towards the
city. Apart from the unusual design of the
city, there was no sense of being on another '
planet. The gravitation, air and natural
scenery were the same as here in England.
I judged that the planet which kept chang-
ing places with the Earth wa.s in genei^
identical to it. It remained to he seen bow
the inhabitants compared.
"It didn’t remain lonp. I had barely
covered a quarter of a mile before 1 saw a
little car — like that in the plinto— speeding
towards me from the city. T stopped and
Waited for it
"It overshoi me by twenty yarda I
glimpsed a couple of men in it arrayed in
Karlet robes, like cardinals. It stopped. The
men in it did something which caused their
ESCAPE tl
ants to swivel around, and this obviated t)ie
necessity of turning the car, for it came
slowly back to me. and w'hat had been its
rear was now its front."
f
H e paused, then resumed his story.
"The men were just like luiy other
men, except that they looked much better
humored. None of the tense frowning you
ace all the time in the streets of our cities.
The only lines on their faces were the lines
of laughter.
"Ow of them leaned out and addressed
me with a smile. 'Hooni.‘
"It sounded vaguely like ’Who arc you?’,
ao I answered, ‘My name is Raines. I have
come from another world. What do you
call this place?*
"Ob\nous!y they didn't comprehend a t
word of it- They smiled at one another and
motioned me to a sort of high dicky seat
which had sprung up at the back of the car.
Then we set off at a swift pace for the city.
"The city gate was just like a great roller
blind. It rnliM up at Our approach and we
shot undemealh it and through tlie fairly
populous streets without slackming speed.
The buildings rearcrl above U8 like sky-
scrapers. There were no sidewalks, People,
all in differently colored but always vivid,
robes, seemed to lie walking just where tliey
pleased, paying no hee«i to the traflic. of
which there was little enough. <
"We were spinning round corners so fast
that several times f nearly shot off my seat.
I was scared, and yelled to the driver to
slow down. Both men merely looked at me
in puzzlement. One pedestrian, a tall chap
in a yellow robe like mitie, walked slap in
front of our bonueL He saw us. He could
have avoided us. I believe we could have
avoided him. There was a slight jar, a
bump, and looking back I saw him lying in
the road. Only hia robe wa.s yellow and
crimson.
"And the two men in my car were grin-
ning at each other ! I felt skk. What mad
and murderous people were these. I
wondered ?
"We stopped at a tall white building. In
a few minutes I wa.« shown into a room
aonicwhere near the top of it with a view
over the city and the surrounding plain. The
two men retired, leaving me atone. Pres-
ently the door opened, and in came a portly
grav-haired fellow in a robe of startling
orange. He sal himself comfortably oppo-
THRILUNG WONDER STORIES
A
site me, and began what 1 presumed to be
QQ interrogation.
“I said, 'I’m sorry but I don't understand
your langtxage. You don’t, by any chance,
nappen to have heard of English?’
■ 'English?' he echoed, and rattled off
again. He stopped when he saw that I
wasn’t getting any of it. ‘Why do you speak
archaic English?' he asked, suddenly and
surprisingly.
‘‘ 'This is the only English I know,’ T
said.
“He smiled. ‘Then it’s lucky I have made
it my hobby. I was asking who you were
and where you came from/
“ ‘it's a story youU hardly credit,' I said
and told him how and why I was visiting
his world. I was amazed that he accepted
It all without expressing any doubt. He
asked more about Earth, its inhabitants and
their behavior. Then he settled himself to
give me a long account of his world.
“In brief, it amounted to this — their world
is nearly a twin of our own. Although the
two worlds had developed tide by side In
time, at it were, theirs had gained about a
thousand years on us. There must be some
small difference in the intervals for some
reason or other, possibly only a single
second. But the aggregate over thousands
of millions of years amounted to a thouund
years.
“In effect their world it what this one
will be in a thousand years' time if it con-
tinues to follow a parallel course — which,
mark you. it has done so far undeviatingly.
“I was in a town called London — or
‘Lndn’ in their speedier English— round
about two thousand nine hundred forty-
seven A. D. There had been a Third World
War — quite as nice a mess as we vtsuallacd,
except that the planet managed to remain in
one piece. But no nation did.
“All that was left afterwards were a few
globally scattered strong points — vast, ffildc-
walled fortresses, having no contact with
each other, and harboring displaced persons
thrown together by chance in the total world
upheaval.
“From these grew up a system of walled
cities, widely separated, each sufficient unto
itself, each in deadly fear of attack from
other cities and in a perpetual state of alert
defense. Most cities had a radar system
which detected the presence of any unl^wn
persons or objects approaching the city Iqr
any means. I myself had been detect^ at
once on the radar screens, surveyed through
telescopes and a car dispatched to bring me
in for interrogation.
" ‘Though that was merely through force
of habit and curiosity,' said the man in
the orange robe — bis name was Tmsn. ‘We
did not Kar yon. We don’t fear anybody or
anything any longer. Fear has been
abolish^ and war has gone with it' *’
AINES paused again — briefly.
“Tmsn elucidated this statement. In
tlie walied fear-haunted city of Lndn after
the Third World War a b^y of wise men
set themselves to answer ^e questioiv—
‘Why, if all men bate war and only wish to
work and pursue happiness in peace, do they
keen starting wars?'
“The answer, they decided, was because
man was still saddled with the brain of an
animal, a beast of prey, with the impulse to
turn and rend evei^hing that threatened it
While man was still a beast tlmt blind sense
of self-preservation was natural and fitting.
But man had one fundamental and ^wlng
difference from the beasts — an imaguiaffon.
"Unfortunately this imagination was teth-
ered to his impulse to attack threatenitw
things. He b^n to see tlireats that weren^
there «t all — they were only in his leaping,
anticipating imagination. He began to fear
the attack phantasms in his own mind and
gave them the flesh of other people, other
tribes, other nations.
"The wise men decided that this unholy
union of fear and imagination bad to be
broken. One or the other had to he nit out
if man was to have any future at all. To cut
out tmagination meant to return to beast.
Thiy decided to cut out fear.
“Upon annlyeis they found fear, worry,
hatred and rage were all disguises of just
one thing — doubt. Doubt of one's own abil-
ity to be equal to any tlireatening thing
brought a surge of adrenalin from the glan^
Into the bloodstream to supply fighttng en-
ergy to taclde the threat, imagined or other-
wiM. And when men were charged with
this fighting energy wars began of them-
selves.
“This doubt center of the mind, they
found, was lorated in the frontal IoIjcs of thp
brain. Hunting in the records they found
reports of a brain operation current in war
neurosis cases durinn and after the Second
World War. It consisted merely of severing
the white nerves joining the frontal lobes m
WAT OF ESCAFB
Ae rest of the brain.
"There was a Scottish tur«on who had
specialized in the operation — the newspapers
and journals of the end of the w'ar period
gave much space to it. The shell-shocked
people, the war neurosis cases, were simply
men distracted by doubt. Most of these
people worried themselves iil fighting the
enemies of titeir own imagination. A threat
is just as real a.s yon imagine it to he.
"The operation cut nut that doubting. It
brought unity, which meant peace of mind, to
the patients. They became happy, good-
humored. .self-confident, unmalicinus people,
fkime of them had speech and hiring cen-
ters slightly affected. That was because of
the clum.sv surgical tools employed — a gimlet
and a knife.
" 'Nowadays,' said Tnisn. 'we use heat
and burn away the neiwes painlessly, with
no boring or cutting. We don't even break
the skin, ft’s merely a matter of getting a
fix on the part to be letnovetl by crossing
two narrow electronic beams there. Also,
the early, crude operations often brought
on symptoms of fatness and lethargy. Obvi-
ously bWause fear no longer stimulated the
elands to function. So now we make a little
adjustment to the thyroid gland.'
"He went on. ‘The practise of this opera-
tion spread and has now become compulsory
all over the world. We are a happy, confident
people. Wc knew war is finished now. As
'or the ordinary bothers of life as your peo-
ple live it. w'e care no more than the lilies
if the field.
" 'You will not find here people worrying
hecause they've got to get to a certain place
by a certain time or do anything by a certain
time. No one worries about time in the
least. Nobody worries about his health, so
everyone is healthy. Most illnesses are prod-
ucts of worry,
“ 'Nobody worries if there isn’t enough
food — ^they just help themsclve.s to other peo-
ple’s. The other people don't care. Tf they
starve they don't care — you only die once.
" 'You won't find people caring what
others think of them or th«r work. There
is no fear of criticism. In your world most
people love bright colors hut they're afraid
In wear tliem, As you may have noticed we
are not afraid. We are free people,'
'T asked him the meaning of the incident
of our car callously running down a harmless
pedestrian. He laughed.
" ‘Such things are fairly coniinon,’ he said.
5)
‘Only sWTiebody from your tick world would
think comment necessary. The fellow didn’t
doubt that he could get across the road before
the car got to him. The fact that he didn’t
doesn’t mean a thing. He just didn't, that’s
all. I’m certain it didn’t worry him in the
least. No more than it would liave worried
me. Or you, after we have cured you.’
“'What!' I exclaimed.
" 'As I’ve said, this lobular operation is
compulsory for all in this world. You're in
it now. Ergo —
" 'But I don't want to be operated on.’
" ‘Of course not. You fear it. That’s a
svmptCTM of your illness. After the opera-
tion vou'll wonder how you could have ob-
jected.'
“ 'How dare you presume to operate on
me against my will ! This is dictatorship. I
won't have it.' I cried.
‘"In j'our world," said Tmsn. ‘school
doctors remove septic tonsils against the
children's wishes. They realize they are
doing it for the children’s own good and the
children's objection.s literally are — childi.sh.’
" 'I’m not childish.'
'“You are. Your whole world is. That’s
what’s wrong with it. For your own good,
we are going to give you treatment.'
"Well, they operated. And then I saw
what a fool I had been to fear it. Tliere was
nothing to fear anymore. Wha# a great part
of my life had been wasted in futile worry-
ing! Everything liecame easy to me now
that there was no crippling drmht. Here,
look at my sketch-book."
H e. dragged it out of a capacious
inner pocket and tossed it to Stafford,
who glanced through it with a deepening
frown.
"I filled that in a day,’’ said Raines. "I
drew with swift confident lines. Before, I
use-' to think genius meant taking infinite
paiv.s. 1 spent half of my time erasing. I
never had to erase a line of that. 1 was sure
a'nd unerring in every stroke.
"I studied the abbreviated English, too,
and mastered it in a few days. Study is easy
if the mind is cleared of doubt. The memory
is infallible, You only forget if you fear you
will forget."
"Anti wliat do you propose doing now?’*
asked Comman.
Raines stood up. “I’m going to see all the
influential people here I can, Newspaper
editors and piojjrielors, potilidaiis, doctors.
54 THRILLING WONDER STORIES
surgeons. I’ll soon persuade them that
everyone should have this brain operation.
It'll end war for good and all and bring man
perfect peace at last. Here begins the millen-
nium!"
He marched towards the dcrif and paused
to call to Stafford, who was' now staring
gloomily out o^the window, “I'll be baCK in
three weeks. Have no doubt of it. 'We'l!
take the next trip together.”
He was gone,
Stafford had a pantomimic glimpse of him
striding down the raad in Ids flying yellow
robe, singing joyously.
"H’m," grunted Cornman, turning the
leaves of the sketch book. “I don't think our
friend has much future as an artist. This
stuff looks like the work of a five-year-old.
In fact. I take a poor view of his future al-
tG^ether in this world, He won't last long if
he continues to have no doubt that he has
the right of way over six-wheeler buses.”
He gave a laugh that seemed to come from
his chest.
“Well, there you are, Stafford," he rumbled
on, "The choice is between living in a fool's
paradise or a saJie man's hell,"
Stafford started to say sometliing, stifled
it. then turned on his heel and walked out.
It was early evening, and still Stafford had
not returned.
Coruujaii went alone to a cafe to have
the meal he usually shared with Stafford.
As he sat at the table .smoking his after
dinner cigar and reading the evening jiaper,
his eye alighted upon a paragraph.
MAN DROWNS IK BESCtTE AVTKMPT
Shortly after noon today an unktiown
man, aged about 35, was drowned in a
spectacular attempt to rescue Mr. R. H.
Strongarm, well-known director of United
Armaments, Ltd., who had accidentally
fallen from bis motor launch as it passed
under Waterloo Bridge.
According to witnesses, the unknown
man, who wore a full-length robe of bright
ydlow and who is suspected of having been
a mefnher of some strange religious sect,
without a moment’s hesitation dived head-
long from the bridge in an attempt to rescue
Mr. .Strongarm. After a few moments it
became obvious tliat the would-be rescuer
had no Idea of how to swim, and soon sank
and was not seen again.
Mr. StrOT^arm. who was rescued by a
trol boat of the River Police, said: “I
ve never seen such courage, It is a great
pity the man did not live to realize that he
had attempted to save a life — I say this
with all modesty — of such importance to
our national security.
ORNMAN’S guffaw made other diners
turn to stare al him. lie got up and
left, hoping to find Stafford al home so that
he could amuse him with this delicious piece
of irony.
The man waiting at home for him was not
Stafford but a police sergeant. The sergeant
aeked him when he had Inst seen Stafford,
made other pertinent inquiries and finally
revealed that Stafford had been fished out of
the Thames, dead.
“He jumped from the Eniljankrnent," said
the sergeant. '‘People saw him from a dis-
tance but couldn’t get there in time to save
him. He left this note for you, Mr. Cornman.
on the parapet.”
He handed Cormnan a folded piece of pa-
per. Cornman read the pencilled scrawl on
it.
Dear Old Corny,
I’ve walked the streets for hours but I can
.see no way out except this one. That other
world is worse than useless to me. How cau I
conduct my research if my critical faculty is
to be destroyed?
That was how Raines was destroyed as an
artist.
My work means everything to me. But it is
inipossible to adhere to the scientific method
without the element of doulrt. Al! science has
been built up laboriously on n system of doubt-
ing. doubting, doubting, until a theory has been
accepted as ^niost beyond doubt But never
wholly beyond doubt, for that is against the
spirit of Science-
Science must forever doubt that it has final
knowledge.
But the sy.stem of trial and error falls to
pieces if you will admit to no error. Progress,
except for absolute flukes, is impossible. And
progress in this present world of ours, it seems,
is impossible too.
I’m getting out.
It will, I’m sure, amuse you to learn that
I'm jumping into the Thames from that very
spot where only yesterday I restrained Raines
from performing this act of sanity, I can
almost hear you laughing.
Your old ftienid.
Stafford.
But Cornman found it difficult to latigh
that ni^ht alone amid the labyrinth of books.
He missed Stafford’s company. He felt
lonely, and unhappy — and insecure.
I
I
Fishting men
r«*p«ct you when
yow wear this patch
Complete strangers will
come up and shake jroar
hand when, they see you
wearing the shoulder
patch ol the Third Ar-
mored IMvision. Some
wUl be soldiers. Some civilians. TbeyU al-
ways look at you with respect and say, “The
Spearhead, eh? I was trith 'em overseas.”
They’ll be thinking of the heroic days
when the Third Armored led the attack of
the First Army In Konnandy, and so be-
came known as “The Spearhead Division."
They'll be thinking of all the division’s
"firsts” — first to enter Germany. First to
captwre a German city. Many other great
achievements.
That's what it means to wear the famoos
shoulder patch and looped cord of the
Belgian Fourragere that marks men of the
Third Armored.
If you enlUt In the Army Combat Force*,
you'll get your training in this or one of
three other famous divisions. During boalo
training you'll wear their Insignia. Later
you'll learn one of a wide range of valuable
skills and trades. A 3-year enlistment en-
ables you to select your arm or service. U
you are 17 to 34 and can measure up to the
high standards of a Combat Soldier, choose
the Infantry. Artillery or Armored Cavalry!
Get details at your nearest Army and Air
Force Recruiting Statlon.
U. S. Amy tad U. S. Mr F«tm RMrwtiac SerriN
CAREERS WITH A FUTURE
U. S. Army and
U. S.^Air Force
Hie Martian* eend an expedition to Earth to euiiect
some specimens — and they pick up Paul Garland^ the
New Eu|tlaiid storekeeper, and his buddy Fatty Myers!
CHAPTER I
Sail Mf the Sloop
1 SEE by the papers where Professor
Fronac says that interplanetary travci
will have to go through what he catls
a period of incubation. He says that after
reaching the moon, we now have hit so many
new problems that we imist sit down and
puzile out new theories to fit them before
we can build a ship that will get us to
Venus or Mars.
Of course, the Army ***d Navy are super
vising all rocket experiments ttiese days, and
the profei.sor's remarks are censored by
them. That makes his speeches hard to
anderstand.
But you know and I know w liat Professor
Fronac is really saying.
The Second Martian Expedition was t
complete Bop. Just like the First Martian
Expedition and the Venusian ones, 'the
ships came l.iack with all the machinery work-
ing fine and all the crews grinning with
health.
Blit they hadn't been to Mars. They
couldn't make it.
The professor goes on to say how won-
derful it is that saence is to wonderful, be-
cause no matter how great the obstacles, the
good old scientific approach will eventually
overcome them. This, he claims, is the draw-
ing of unprejudiced conclusions from all the
data available.
Well. If that’s what Professor Fronac
58 THRILLINf. WOXDER STORIES
really believes, he sure didn't act like it last
August when I went all the way to ArJeons
to tell him just what he'd been doing wrong
In those latest rocket experiments. Let me
tell you. even if I am only a sinall-town
ocer and he’s a big physics professor with a
obel Prise under his belt, he had no call
to threaten me with a Jail sentence just be-
cause I slipped past the Army guards at the
Aeid and hid in his bedroom! I was there
only because I wanted to tell him be was on
the wrong track.
If it hadn’t been for pwr "Fatty" Myers
and that option on the Wsnthrop store which
he's going to lose 1^ Christmas. I’d have
walk^ out on the whole business right thee
and k»t my mouth shut. After all. it’s no
skin on niy nose if we never go any further
than the moon. I’m happier right here on
terra firma, and 1 do mean terra. But. if
I coiivitu-e scientists, maybe I’ll cimvincv
Edna
S O. for the last lime. Professor Fronac
and anybody else who’s interested— If
you really want to go places in tlie Solar
System, you have to come down here to
Massachusetts, You have to take a boat out
on Cassowary Cove at night, every night,
and wait, I’ll help if you act halfway decent
— and I'm sure Fatty Myers will do what he
can — but it'll still add up to a whole lot of
patience. Shoin wasn’t dreefed in a ria. ^
they sav.
Fatty had just told his assistant to take
citarge of the gat station that evening in
March and walked slowly past the Wintnrop
stoic up to Illy grocliry window. He waited
till my wife was busy with a customer;- then
he caught my eye atitl pointed at his watcli.
I shucked off my apron and pulled the
heavy black sweater over iny head. I had
my raincoat in one hand and my hshing
tackle in the other, and was just lip-toeing
out when Edna saw me.
She came boiling around the counter and
blocked the door with her right arm. “And
where do you think you're gmng and leaving
me to do the work of two?" she asked in
that q>ec{al sin^liasing voice she saves for
iny tip-toeing moments.
"Aw. Edna!" I said, tiying to work up a
mn. "I told you. Fatty’s bought a new
mirty-foot sloop he wants me to make sure
will be in shape for the tourist trade this
summer. It’s dangerous for one matt to sail
a new boat alone at night.”
"It’s twice as dangerous for him with you
along." She glared the grin off my face.
“For the past thirty years, ever since we
graduated from school, one unfailing rccij)c
for trouble has liecn Paul Garland and Fatlv
Myers doing an)'thing together. 1 still
haven’t forgotten the lime lie came over tn
help you install the new gas boater In our
basemctit. You were in the hospital for five
weeks and the street still looks crooked.”
■"nw fiashlight went out, Edna, and Fatty
just struck a match to — "
■‘.^^d what about the time. Mr. Garland,”
Louisa Capek, the customer, hit me from
behind, ‘‘that you and Mr. Myers vol-
unteered to shingle the church roof and fell
through it on top of the minister? For ei^t
Sundays he had to deliver sermons with Tiis ,
back in a cast and every one of them 'an- '
swering a fool according to his folly !’ ”
"How were we to know the braoiis were
rotten? We volunteered for the job.”
"You're not going, and that’s final," Edna I
came in fast with the finisher. “So yon I
might as well get that sweater off and tha
apron back on and start uncrating those cans
of sardines. The two of you out on Cass-
owary Cove at night in s sailboat might
bring on any’thing. including a tidal wave.”
I gave Fatty the high sign, and he opened
the door and aqueeaed in just as we had
agreed he’d do in cate I had trouble getting
away.
"Hdlo, Edna and Miss Capek.” he said
in that cheerful belly-voice of his. "Every
time I sec how beautiful you look. Edna, I
could kick myself around town for letting
Paul steal YOU away from me. Ready, PauP
Paul and 1 are going to do a spot of fishing
tonight. Maybe we can bring a nice four-
pound fish back to you. Do you think you
could fit it into one of those pots I gave )'OU
last Oiristmas, liev?"
My wife cocked Iicr head and studied him.
“Well, I think I could. But you -won’t be
out past midnight ?"
"Have him back by eleven — word of
honor," Fatty promised as he grabbed me j
and squeezed back through the doorway.
"Remember, Paul I” Edna called after me.
"Eleven o’clock! And you needn't come
home if you're ten minutes late!"
That's the kind of pal Fatty was. Any
wonder that 1 knock myself out trying to
get this story told where it’ll do the most
good? Of course, he and Edna Isad been
kind of sweet on each other back in school
CONSULATE SS
ind it had been nip and luck ijetween us
which one she'd many. No otie knew till
re both got drunk at Louisa Capek’i birth-
day party tliat we’d settled the problem.
Fatty and I. by each catching a frog out of
he creek and jumping them. Mine jumped
the furthest — nine and a half feet — so I got
Edna. Fatty stayed single and got fatter.
While he was starting the car. Fatty
a.skcd me what I thought of the Winthrop
•lore as a buy for nine thuusaml. Tlie Win-
throp store was a big radio and electrical
gadget place between my grocery and Fatty’s
eorncr service station.
I TOLD him I thought it was a good buy
for nine thousand if anyone wlig had the
iDunev wanted such a place.
•'Well. I want it. Paul. I lust paid old
man Winthrop five hundred oolUrs for an
option until Christmas, Between what I have
in the bank and a mortgage I think 1 can
raise on my service station, I'll have the
rest It’s the coming thing in the new age.”
“What’s the coming thing in what new
age?”
■'All those scientific gadgets. The Army
has just announced it’s eslablisheil a base on
the moon and they're going to <;quip it with
a radio transmitter. Think of it, Paul! In
a little while, we'll be getting radio programs
from the moon 1 Then, we’ll he Uinittg in on
die latest news from Mars and Venus, the
btest exploration on Mercury, the latest
discovery t>n Pluto. People will be crasy to
buy the new sets they’ll need to receive that
distance, kids’ll be fooling around with all
the new gimmicks that'!! be coming out be-
cause of the invention.^ ihterplanetary travel
trill develop. "
I watched the country side get dark as we
bounced along toward the cove. "Mean-
while. we don’t have interplanetary travel.
.Ml we have is the moon, and it don’t look
as if we’re going further. Did you read about
the Second Venusian Expe^dition coming
back after they got two million miles out .
The same thing’s lia]>pencfl to them before,
and we can't seem to make Mars either.”
Fatty slapped the wheel impatiently. His
jaloppy swerved oS the road and almost hit
a fence post. "So what? They keep trying,
don’t they? Don't forget, the Fronac Drive's
only been around for two years, and all
scientists agree that, with the Drive, we can
eventually go anywhere in the Solar System
— maybe even to the stars after a while.
It's just a matter of perfecting it, of getting
the kinks out. We’ll reach the planets, and
in our lifetimes too. How do you know
what kind of crazy problems they run into
two or three million miles from the Earth?”
Naturally, I had to admit I didn't know
All the newspapers had said was that both
the First Martian and the two Venusian Ex-
peditions had “experienced difficulties and
Iwen forced to return.” I shut up and tried
to think out anollier argument. Tliat's all
it was : the argument for me, and a business
proposition for Fatty Myers. If you re-
member, back in March, the newspapers and
magazines were still full of feature articles
on '’the expanding empire of man.”
CHAPTER II
Vp They Go
W E reached Ific cove an<l Fatty locked
hi* car. The sloop was all ready to
go, as we’d fixed her up the night before.
When we shoved off, she hanrlled like a
draam tliat I.ipton might have had as a boy.
She was gaff-rigged, but not too broad of
beam so rat we couldn’t run a little if we
wanted to. Fatty handled the tiller and I
crewed. That way, we only needed ballast
forward.
Neither of us were crazy about fishing.
We’d in^e that up as an excuse for Edna.
Sailing in the moonlight in the great, big
loneliness of Cassowary Cove, with the
smells of the Atlantic resting quietly around
us — that was all the wallop we wanted.
"But supi>ose,'’ I said, as soon as I'd
trimmed sail, “suppose we got to Venus and
there’s a kind of animal there that finds us
more ajjperizing than chili con corns. And
suppose they’re smarter than we arc and
have disintegrators and heat-rays like that
fdlow described in the story. And the
minute they see us, they’ll yell, ’Oh. boy —
rations !’ and come piling down cm Earth.
“That'll do your business a lot of good,
won't it f Why, when we get through driving
them beck off the planet, won’t be a man
or woman who'll be able to think of inter-
planetary travel without spiuing. I go along
with Reverend Pophurst: we shouldn’t poke
our noses into strange places where they
were never meant to go or wc'll gel tlicm
THBILUHG WOMDB STOMU
bitten off."
Fatty thought a while and Mtted hi#
stomach with hts free hand like be always
doea when 1 score a good point. Most folKs
town don't know it. nut Fatty and I
wua!K ^ so lathered up in arguments just
before’ Hertion Day. that we always vote
Opposite tickets, no matter what.
^'First place, if we hit animals smart
enough to have disintegrators and suchlike
when we dnu't have them, and if they wart
this planet, they're going to take it awav
from us. and no movie hero in a tight
jumper and riding hoots is going to stop
them at the last minute hy discovering that
tiie taste of pickled beets kills ’em dead.
Tf thev’re smarter than we are and have
more stuff, we’ll be licked, that's all. We
just won't he around any more, like the
dinosaur. Second place, didn’t you read
Profesinr Fronac's article in last week’s
Sunday Supplement? He says there can’t
!« any smarter animals — Say! What’d you
call that? There, over to starboard?”
r turned and looked off to the right.
Where a streak of moonlight grinned on
the water between the lips of the cove, some-
thing green and bulbous was coming in fast.
It irmkeri like f!ie open fop of an awdiilly
big umbrella. I judged it to be thirty-five,
folly feet acioss. It was floating stra^ht for
Mike’s Casino on the southern Hp where
lights were blazing, music was lianging, and
peojile generally were having themselves a
whale of a lime.
"Seaweed.” I guessed. "Bunch of seaweed
all scrunched up in an ice-jam. Jam nvelted
or broke up and it -coines floating down here
in one lump ”
"Never saw that much seaweed in these
pans." Fatty aquinted at it. "Nor in that
sha[>e. And that bunch camt into this cove:
it didn’t float in. The ocean’* too quiet for
it to have .«o much speed, Know what I
think it is?”
"The first summer tourist?”
"No ! A Portuguese Man-Of-War.
They’re jellyfish. They have a bladder, kind
of. that floats on the suTfat-e, and long
filaments underneath that trail into the water
and catch fish. I've read about them but
never expected to see one. Pretty rare
around here. And that’* a real big fellovr.
Want to take a look?”
"Not on your life! It may be dangerous.
Brsides, this is the flist time in a month
Elina's let me go out with you. She doesn't
know exacth* what’s going to happen, but
she’* sure sometking is, I want to m home
safe and sound by eleven. What were you
saying about smarter animals, Fatty? On
other planets ?”
"It can’t be dangerous," he muttered, still
keepit^ his eyes on its track. "Only catches
very small fish. But — Like I was saying,
if there was something on Kcptuiie. say
which is more advanced than we are. why
then it'd be smart enough to have apace
travel and they'd he visiting us instead of us
them. Look how we've explored that planet
We’ve gone down into the ground nine miles
and more, across every' sea and into every
ocean, hack and forth over every piece of
land, and now up into the air. If there w»s
another kind of intelligent life on this Ear^.
we'd know it by now. Stands to reason *ny-
bo(^ else’d do the same. So. like Professor
Fronac says, we must cojiclude — Am 1
wrong, or is that Man-Of-War coming at
us now?”
I T was. The green mass bad turned in A
great, rippling circle and was headed
for our sloop, but fast.
Fatty slammed the tiller hard to star-
hoard and T leaped for the sail*. They went
slack.
a time for the wind to dropi” he
moaned. "There's a pair of emergent oars
in the — Too iatc. it^ abreast ! Youll find
a hatchet in the cockpit. See if you can — ’’
'T thought you said it wasn’t dangerous,"
I puffed, as I scrambled hack with ihg
hatchet.
Fattv had dropped the tiller and picked up
a tnarlin-spike He stood up next to me and
stared at the floating mound alongside. Both
It and our boat seemed to be perfectly still.
We could see water rushing j«st us. Far off.
in Mike's Casino, the band was playing
"Did Your Mother Come From Ireland?"
I stopped being sad and got sentimental. I
That song always make me sentimental.
"It isn't dangerous.” Fatty admitted.
"But I just remembered that the PortugMese
Man-Of-War has batteries of stingers that
it uses to catch fish. They can hurt a man
sometimes, too. And in anything this l>ig—
Of course, we’re inside a boat and it can’t
get at us."
“You hope. Something tells me ihat (
won't be home at eleven tonight. And if
that’s just supposed to be an air-fillcd
bladder, what are thoee black things floating
CONSULATE «1
iu it? Eyes?”
■'Thg’ sure look like eyes. Fee! like eyes,”
We watched tlie black dots flickering over the
green surface and began to shuffle our feet.
Wc felt as if a crowd of people were watch-
• tng us undress in Courthouse Square.
1 know wc both did. because we compared
notes later. We had plenty of time — later.
"Know what?" Fatty said. “T don’t think
n’s a Portuguese Man-Of-War, after all.
It’s too big and green, and I don’t remem-
ber seeing an>lhing like those black dots in-
side the air bladder in any of those pictures
r saw. And it doesn’t seem to have any
filaments hanging from it. Besides, it moves
too fast.”
“Then what is it?"
Fatty patted his stomach and looked at it
He opened his mouth.
I forgot to ask him wliat lie was goii^
to say just then, and he never told me. He
didn’t say it an>'way. He just watt
“Beep?” and sat down hard. 1 also sat
down hard, only I went more like “Foof?”
The sloop bad gone straiglit up in the air
for about fifteen feet. As soon as I could,
I jumped up and helped Fatty wheeze to a
sending position.
We both ^Iped. The gulps seemed to
get stuck going down,
Even though we were fifteen feet above
the surface <rf the cove, the boat was still
hi the water, A little cup of water, that is,
extending twenty feet out on l»th port and
starboard and only about five feet on the
bow and stem.
Beyond the water, there was a kind of
gray haze that was transparent enough for
me to sec the lights of Mike's Casino where
they were still playing “Did Your Mother
Come From Ireland?” This gray haze went
all the way around, covering the mast and
the gaff tops.
When we rushed over to the side and
looked down, we saw it came around under
the keel too. Solid stuff, that gray haze —
it contained us, the Ixiat and enough water
to float it.
Somebody had taken an awfully big bite
out of Cassowary Cove, and we were in-
cluded. We knew who that somebody was.
We looked around for him.
The big slob was busy outsiile the gray
haze, Fir.st, lie was under tlie keel, fastening
a little box to the bottom of the haze. Then
he .squirmed around to tlie lop. directly over
the mast and stuck another docdiickey up
there. Those little black dots were still bub-
bling around inside his green body, but
Ihej- didn’t make me feel queer any more.
1 HAD other things to feel queer about.
"Ck) you think we might try at
him?” Fatty asked in the kind of whisper
he uses in church, "Wh.itever he is, he
looks intelligent."
“What could you yell?"
He scratched his head. 'T donno. How
about, ‘Friend. Me friend. No hurt. Peace.’
Think he’d understand?"
“He’d think you were an Indian in the
movies, that’s what. Why should you think
he understands English? T.et’.s drop onf
weapons and raise both our hands. That
gesture’s universal, I read.”
We kept our hands over our heads unt'il
they got tired. The lump of green jcUy
had moved from the box he had fixed over
the mast to a position in line with the slant
of the gaff. He boiled around for a few
seconds until a section of the gray haze
began to sparkle with color; a lot of colors,
shifting in and out of each other. Then,
as soon as the patch w-as coruscating nicely,
he dropped off the side and hh tiie water
fifteen feet bdow.
He hit the water without a splash.
He zoomed along the surface, faster than
I could breathe the initials J. R.. for alniut
liaJf a mile, paused just outside the covo—
and dropped outvof sight. There wasn't *
ripple to show the path he’d been traveling,
or where he’d sunk. All that was left was
our floating gray bubble. With us, inside.
“Hey!" Fatty began yammering. "You
can’t do this to me! Come back and let us
out, d’ye hear? Hey, you in that green jelly,
come back here!”
1 got him quiet by pointing out tiutt the
animated shrimp cocktail was no longer with
us. Also, there didn't seem much cause for
worry. If he’d wanted to do us any liarm,
he could pretty much have done it while he
was clo.se up. considering the brantl of
parlor tricks he liad already demonstrated.
Let well enough alone. I argued; I was
satisfied to be alive and unwell, white the
bubble-blowing object did a Weismuller
somewhere in the Atlantic.
"Rut we can’t stay here all night," Fatty
complained. “Suppo.se someone from town
could see us — why, witli our r^utatiou,
they'd laugh us clear into the comic strips.
Whyu't you shinny up the mast and stick
THRILUNG WONDi» STORIES
an arm into tlut stuff. Paul? Find out wliat
it’s made of, maybe make a hole and wriggle
through?’'
'That sounded reasonable. We sure hatl to
do something. He bent down and gave me a
boost. I wrapped my legs around tlie niast.
grabbed handfuls of sail and dragged myseF
to the top, The mast ended just under the
box outside of the gray haw>.
"There's a purring noise coming from the
box." I called down to Fatty, “Nothing in-
side it hut silver wheels going round and
round like the one in an electric meter.
Only they’re not attached to anything.
They’re floating al all kiudt> of angles to
each other and spinning at different speeds.
I heard Fatty curse unecriainly, and 1
puncher! up into the grayoe-ss. I hurt my
fist. I pulled my arm back, massaged it as
my feet slipped and scrambled on the mast
and sail, and stabbed up wilh a forefinger.
I hurt my forefinger.
"Gray stuff hard?” Fatty asked.
Unprintably unprintable it was hard. I
told him.*
"Come on down and get the hatchet. You
mieht be able to chop a hole.”
. ‘'I don’t think so. This fog is almost
transparent and I don't think it’s made of
any material we know. Fact is, I don’t think
it’s made of any material."
Above my head, the purring got a little
Innder There was a siniilar noise coming
frcmi the bottom of the bubble where the
other box was located.
I took a chance and, holding myself by
one arm and one leg, I swurtg out and pecr^
at the .spot of .shifting color near the box.
It fonked like the spectrum you sec in an
oil puddle — vou know, colors changing their
position while you look at them. I ptished
up gainst the gray near the colored patch.
It didn’t give either.
T MF. na.sty thing was I had the feeling
(tot it wasn't tike trying to push a hole
through a sheet of steel ; it was more as if
I were trying to drive a nail into an argu-
ment. or break a sermon across my knee.
Kind of a joke in a scary sort of way.
“Hand hp the hatchet.” T called. “I don't
see how it *11 do any good, Init I’ll try it
anyway."
Fatty lifted the hatchet high and stood up
on his toes. I started to slide down the
mast. The purring from the box became
a whine.
Just as my stretching fingers closed arouml
the hatchet handle, the box on top and the
box on the bottom of the boat began going
dinkety-elangrty-cltnig. It reached clung and
I was no longer doing it to the mast, t
was on tup of Fatty and hr was spread-
eagled on the deck.
I had a glimpse of the hatchet sailing over
the ride.
"Wb-what f-for you wanted to d-do th-
ihat." Fatty gasped as I rolled off him and
we both grouted upright. ‘‘C-couldn't you
tell me yoti w-wantetl to get down fast ? I’d
have ntovetl away. iMTcst!”
"Wasn't my fault.” I said. “1 was
pushed.”
Fatty wasn’t listening. He was staring at
something el.se. An<l, when I noticed it, so
was I.
A lot of sea-water had .cpiaslicd into the
cockpit. Some of it Iiad wet us.
All of rite watei on deck rolled into a
little lake al>aft of the mast, the ^^'ater on
rmr hodtes dripping down and joining it.
Then, the entire puddle rolled to port and
billed off the deck. The boat was perfectly
cry again. So were we.
"This I’m banning not to like.” Fatty
commented hoarsely. I nodded my head. too.
Under the circumstances I didn’t feel easy
in my mind.
Stepping very delicately, as if he were
afraid he might fracture a commandment.
Fatty moved over to the side and looked
out. He shook his head and looked down.
"Paul.'' he said after a while in a low
\-oice. 'Taul. wuuld you come here? Some-
thing I — " lie choked.
I loA a look. I gulped, one of those
really tong gulps that start down from your
Adatn’v Tnd wim! up squishing out be-
tween vour toes.
Briow u*. under the water and the gray
haxe. wa i slew of darkne.ss. Beyond that,
at a respectaWc distance, I could’ see the
Atlantic Ocean and the New England coast
lirw with Ope hooking out its small,
bent finger. New England was moving away
fast and became the eastern seaboard of the
United Stales even as f watched.
The moonlight gave it a sort rrf unhealthy
dimness, just enough to make out details and
recogniie the North and South .American
conimcnts wlien tliey grew out of the eastern
seaboard. The western coast was a little
dark and blurry, Init it made me tiomesick
for the days when Fatty and Edna and I sat
CONSULATE
83
•ext to a map looking just like that in .school.
Right then. I couldn't think of anythii^
■lorcabscrfutely enjoyable than standing near
Edna in the grocery while she nagged the
nss off me.
“That's what happened,” Fatty was
whimpering. “Tliat’s why we fell and the
water jumped into the bMt. We just shot
■p iti a straight line suddenly and we’re
still traveling — us, the sloop, and enough
water to float the whole business. We’re
inside a gray ball that isn't nude of anything
and which we can’t break out of even if
wt still wanted to."
“Take it easy. Fatty, and well be all
right." I told him with all the assurance
of a bank robber trying to explain to the
policeman whn caught him that he was only
dying to deposit his gun in the vault and
the cashiers misunderstood him.
WfcTE SAT down heavily in the cockpit
V w and Fatty automatically grabbed the
tiller. He sighed and shook his head.
“I feel just like a package being sent some-
place.” He gestured up towards the spot of
changing color. “And that's the label.
Please do not open until Christmas.”
"What is it, do yon think? An invasion
from another planet?"
"And we're the first battle? Don’t be
silly, Paul. Although it could be at that.
We could be a sample being sent back to
headquarters to give them an idea of how
tough a nut Earth might Iw. The careless,
oinnnd way that green whatnot acted is
what gripes me ! It was as if he was going
after Mike’s Casino first and then decided
to take m because we were closer, or be-
cause our di.«appearance would attract less
notice than a night-club’s. But either way
it didn’t matter much. He did it and went
back home, or — ”
“I can still hear Mike’s Casino. At least
I can hear the band playing ‘Did Your Moth-
er Come From Ireland ?’ ”
Fatty slanted his big, loose face at the
mast. ‘T hear it too. But it's coming from
that box with the wheels up there. This
whole thing is so crazy, Paul, that I actually
think that creature knew it was your fa-
vorite song and fixed the box to play it all
the time. So you'd be more comfortable,
kind of. Like the glow we have inside the
bubble to provide us with light. He ^nts
the packa^ to arrive in good condition."
"A space-going juke-box," I muttered.
CHAPTER III
On To .Vorj, Via Bubble
T here wa.s a longish bit of silence
after that. We sat and watched the
stars go by. 1 tried to make out tlie Big
Dipper but it must have been lost in the
shuffle, or maybe its position was diifennt
up here. The moon wa.s shrinking off to
port. SO I decided we weren't going there.
Not tliat it made much difference. But at
least there was an Army base on the moon
and I've seen enough western films to liave
great confidence in the United States Army
— at least in the cavalry part. The sun
wa.sn'r a pleasant sight from empty space.
The funny thing is tliat neither of us were
reaUy frightened. It was partly the sudden-
ness with which we'd been wrapped up and
mailed, partly the care that was being taken
of us. Inside the bubble there was a glow
like broad daylight, strong enough to read
by.
Fatty sat and worried about the option on
the Winthrop store he’d lose if he didn’t pick
it up in time. I figured out explanations for
Edna on why I didn’t make it home bv
eleven. The bo.x. on top and the box on
bottom hununed and mumbJed. The sloop
maintained the position it had originally liad
in Cassowary Cove, perfectly steady in the
water. Every once in a while, Fatty bit a
fingernail and I tied a shoelace.
No. we weren't really frightened — there
didn't .seem to be anything solid enough to
get frightened about, sitting in a sailboat out
there with trillions of tiny light.s burning
all around. But we sure would have giver
our right arms clear up to our left hands
for a sneak preview of the next act.
“One consolation, if you can call it that,”
Fatty said. “There’s scxne sort of harrier
two or three million miles from the Earth
and this contraption may not be able to get
past it. The papers don’t say exactly what
tlic space-ships hit out here, but I gathered
it was something that stopped them cold,
but didn't smash them and allowed them to
turn and con« back. Something like —
like — ■'
“Like the stuff this gray bubble is made
of,” I su^ested. We stared at each other
for a few minutes, then Fatty fouiul an un-
THBnXING WOKDER STORIES
64
bitten nail on one of his fingers and took
care of it. an<l 1 li«d both my shoelace#,
We got hungry, There was nothing in our
pockets that could be eaten. That made us
nutigrier.
1-atty lumbered over to the side and looked
down into the water. "Just as I thought
Hey. Paul, break out your fishing tackle
There's a mackerel swimming amnnd under
the boat. Must have been caught up with
ua. "
"Fishing'll take tno long. HI net it.” I
undressed, grabbed my landing net. "There's
not much water and he won't have maneu-
vering space. Blit what about a fire? If we
try to cook it, won't we use up the air?"
He shook his head. "Nope We've been
in long enough for the air to foul if it wasn't
being cluuiged. It's as fresh as ever. What-
ever that ntachinery is up there, it’s not
only tooling ii.« along at a smart clip am'
playing 'Did Yovr Mother Come From
Inlands for your special benefit, but it’s
alBO pumping fresh air in and stale air ojit
And if you ask me where it gets oxygen and
nitrt^en in empty space — "
"I wouldn't dream of It,” I assured him.
As ftoon at I spied the mackerel, a small
one. less than a foot long, I stepped into the
water and went for it with the net. I’m a
pretty good under-water swimmer.
Pretty good, hut the mackerel was lietter
More practise. I felt silly caroming off the
keel and gray haze while the fish dodged
all around me. After a while, he got pi'si
rivHy insulting. He achi-illy swam back-
wards. facing me, just out of reach of the
net.
I came to the surface, swallowed air. and
climb^ back alxiard.
"lie's too spry.” I began. "I’ll get mv
fishing gear and — ”
I stoppecl. I was back in the gulping
groove again.
F ATT\' was sitting in the cockpit, look-
ing as if he liad sat down sudnenly. In
front of him there was a flock of plates, -six
glasses and two snowy napkins on which
rested assorted knivc.s. forks and sjjpons
There were two glasses of water, twn
glasses of milk and two glasses of beer.
The plates were fillet) with (ooti: grapefruit!
soup, beef stenk. French fried potatoes,
green peas, and — for dessert — ice cream.
Enoiigli for two. Our dream meal.
"It came from the box above," Fatty
told me as I dressed with chmiOT fingtM.
"I heard a click and looked up. There wi4
this ttuff floating down in single file. Thmr
distributed themselves evenly as they htt
the deck.”
"At least they feed you well.”
Fatty grimaced st me. "You know where
else you get sen’ed a meal with everything
your heart de.sires.”
Well, we unwrapped the cutlery and ate.
What eUe could we do? The food was de-
lirious. perfectly cooked. The drinks and
the ice cream were cold, the grapefruit was
chilled. When we finished, there was an-
other click. First, three cigars that T remem-
bere<l snwking at Louisa Capek’s birthday
party and liking more than any others I’d
ever bad. then, a plug of Fatt)' Myers’s fa-
vorite chaw appeared. When the matches
breesed down, we had stopped shrugging oar
shoulders. Fatty talked to himself a little,
though.
I wa.s halfway through the first cigar
when Fatty heaved himself upr^bt. “f»of
an idea."
He picked up a couple of plates and heaved
them over the side. We both stood and
watched them sink. Just before they got to
the bottom — thej' disapjieared. Like that
About two feet away from the lower liox.
“So that's what happens to the waste ”
"What?" T asked him.
He glared at me. "That."
We got rid of the rest of the service in
the same -• ay. On Fatty’s suggestion we
kept the knives. "We might net^ weapons
when we arrive where — where we're going.
Charwetfr- there might, want to dissect us.
or torture inforr. ation nut of us about
Earth.”
"If they can pull this kind of stuff, do you
think we 4op them?” I wanted to know.
"With knivr. that they made up for ns nut
of etnfx-. f- ntiness?"
But the knives.
We . ’K<pt the mackerel. For a pet. If
we were to be fed this as a steady
diet. wh(i wanted mackerel? There were
only Ih' ihrcr of us in that bubble and we
felt we ail had to stick together. The
nrackerel frit it too. for he began swimming
lip nenr the surface whenever we came close
,to the side. We became pretty good friends,
and I fed him the bait I'd brought along —
free.
About four hours later — it may have been
five, because neither Fatty nor I had watches
CONSULATE
^he bnx dicked and the same meal wafted
down with all the fixing*. We ate some
and threw the rest overboard.
"You know.” Fatty *aid. “If it weren't
for that ’Did Your Mother Come From
Ireland' playing over and over, I could al-
most be enjoying myself."
“YeaJi. I'm getting tired of it myself.
But would you rather be listening to 'I’m
Forever Blowing Bubbles?' ”
The Earth was just a shrinking, ahining
disc but neither of us could resist grabbing
a fast look at it. now and then. It meant my
grdeery and Edna, Fatty’s service station
and hii option on the Winthrop store. Home,
'mid planets and galaxies. . . .
We got sleepy and pulled down the sails
which weren’t being overwhelmingly useful
at the time. We rolled them up into a sort
of mattress and, together with some blankets
Fatty had in the cockpit, made ourselves a
fairish bed.
When we woke out of a mutual night
mare in which Fatty and I were being dis-
sected by a couple of oyster stews, there
were two complete steak dinners on deck.
That is, two for me and two for Fatly. We
had a grapefuit and a glass of milk apiece
and got rid of the rest. We lounged around
uncomfortably and cursed the composer of
’Did Your Mother Come From Ireland?*
I couldn't understand how I’d ever liked that
song.
1 DIDN'T think too much of the sloop.
either. It was one of the most idiotic
boats I’d ever seen, narrow, hard, unintereat-
ing lines. If I ever bought a boat it wouldn’t
be a sloop.
We shucked our clotlies off ajid went for
a swim around the edges. Fatty floated on
his back, his immense Mlly rising above the
surface, while I dived down and played tag
with the mackerel.
Around ue was nothing but the universe.
Stars, stars and still more stars. I'd have
pven anything for a street-light.
We climbed back in the boat to find an-
other steak dinner waiting. The swim had
made u« hungry, so we ate about s quarter
of it.
“Not very efficient,” Fatty grumbled.
"I mean that green monster. Some way or
or other — telepatity. maybe — he figured we
liked certain things. Steak dinners, special
tobacco, a song. He didn't bother to go into
it any further and find out how much of
65
those thing* we liked— and how often. Care-
less workittanship.”
“Talk about carelessnesf.” I shot at him.
“You wanted to go out and take a look at
liitii when he fiist ctune into the cove, You
■were at the tiller and couldn’t even get us
about in time. You didn't sec he was chasing
us until he was abreast 1”
HU little eyes boiled red. “I was at tite
tiller, but what were you (^ing right then?
You were pretty unoccupiea and you should
have seen him coming I But did you?”
“Hah I You thou^t be was a Portuguese
Man-of-War. Like the time ■we were shin-
gling the church roof and you thought that
the black spot near the steeple was a sheet
of metal when all the time it was only a
hole. We wouldn't have fallen past the
beam either, if you weren't such a big fat
slob.’’
Fatty stood up and waved his stomach at
me. “For a little hen-pecked squirt, you
sure — Hey, Paul, don’t let's get going this
■way. W* don’t know how long we may
have to be together on this fiea-bitten row-
boat bim! we don't want to start arguing.”
He waa right. I apologized. ‘*My fault,
that church roof—"
“No. wv fault.'’ he insisted generously.
'T iww a little too heavy at that moment.
Shake, old pal, and let's keep our heads.
We'll be the only representatives of humanity
wherever we're liecding, and we liave to stick
together.”
We riiook and had a glass of beer on it.
All the same, it did get tight as steak
dinner followed steak dinner and ‘Did Your
Mother Come From Ireland?* went through
chorus after chorus. We carved a cliecker-
board out of some deck-boards and tore up
old newspaper to make checkers. We went
for swims around the boat, and we made up
little guessing games to try on each other
We tested the gray haze and thought up a
thousand different ways that the boxes might
be working, a thousand different explana-
tions of Uie spot oi color near the top, a
thousand different reasons for our being
bubbled and sent out into the w*ild black
yonder.
But we were down to counting rtars
when the red planet began to grow large.
“Mara,” Fatty said. “It looks like ffie
pkture of Mars in the article Professor
Fronac liacJ in the Sunday supplement."
“I wish he were here instead of us. He
wanted to go to Mars. We didn't”
86 trbujling wondes stories
There ween't a dotid in the ilcy at Mars
SI we came down through the clearest atr
I’ve ever seen. We landed ever so gently
in a flat desert of red sand. On all sides of
the gray ball we could see acres on acres of
■and.
Nothing else.
"Don't know if this is much of an improve-
ment on what we’ve been through/’ I re-
marked morosely.
Fatty wasn’t Rstening. He was standing
on his toes and staring around eagerly.
"We’re seeing what no man has ever seen
before u*." he said softly. "We’re on Mars,
do you understand. Paul? The sun — notice
how much smaller it looks than on Earth?
What wouldn't Professor Fronac give to
be in our shoes!"
"He can have mine any time he ihows up.
And I’ll throw in a new pair of aoles and
heels. Looking at a red desert iwi’t mv
idea of a really big time, if you know what
I mean. Fails to give me a hang. And where
are the Martians?"
“They’ll show. Paul, thcyll show. 'They
didn’t' send us forty million miles just to
decorate their desert. Hold your horses,
feller.”
B ut I didn't have to hold them long.
Off at the edge of the horizon, two
specks appeared, one in the air and coining
fast, aod one mooching along the ground.
The speck in the air grew into a green
and bulbous mass about the size of the one
in Cassowary Cove. It didn’t liave any
wings or jets or any other way of pu.shing
itself along that I could see It just hapf>ened
to be flying.
When it reached us. the one on the
ground was still far away.
Our iww buddy had eyes, too — if that’*
what they were. Only they weren't black
dots floating inside it; they were dark knob-
like affairs sttick on the outside. Bttt they
felt just the same as the other when it paused
on top of our bubble — as il they could on
dress our minds.
Just B second of this. Then it moved to
the box. fitldled with it a moment and the
music stopped- The silence anutided wonder-
ful.
W'hen it slid round to the bottom, going
down thrmigli the »nd as if the desert was
made of mirage. Fatty handed me a couple
of the knives we'd saved and picked out
three for himself.
"Stand by,” be whiipered. "It may coiw
of? any minute now."
1 didn’t make any sarcastic crack about
the usefulness of such weapons because I
was having trouble breathing. Besides, the
knives gave me a little confidence. I couldn’t
see where we might go if we happened to
have a battle wi& these things and won.
but it was nice holding something that could
conceivably do damage.
By this time, the guy on the ground had
irrivetl. He was in a one-wheeled car that
was filled with wires and gadgets and crack*
ly stuff- We didn’t get a good glimpse of
him until he stepped out of the car and stood
stiffly against it.
When we did, we didn't like it. This whole
play was getting peculinr
He wasn’t green and he wasn’t bulbous.
He was about hall our height, very thin,
shaped like a flexible cylinder. Hr was
blue, streaked wnth wliife. and about a dozen
tentacles trailed out from the middle of the
cylinder under a tutHery of holes and bumps
that I figured were the opposite number of
ear#, noses and mouths.
He Stood on a pedestal of smaller cylinder
that seemed to have a sucking bottom to grip
the sand.
When our green friend had finished work-
ing on the underside, he came tearing up to
Jo-Jo near the car, Jo-Jo stiffeited even
more for a second, then seemed to get all
loose and flexible and bent over, his tentacles
drooping on the sand.
It wasn’t a bow It reminded me more of
the way a dog fawns.
"Thev eamid have two intelligent races
here oii Mars.” Fatty suggested in a low
voice.
Then, while tl»e icmacletl chap was still
scraping desert, the blob of green lifted and
skimmed away in the direction he’d come.
It was exactly like the business back in
Cassowary* Cove, except this tiaie it was
firing away while Ivirk on Earth It had
zorxnix] aktng the water and submerged. But
both were done so tpiickly and carelessly as
to be positively inswiling. After all. I’m not
C-MCtly siiiall potatoes in my part of the
country: one of my ancestors would have
come over on the Mayflower if he hadn’t
been in jail.
This rylinrier character turned and
watched until the jellyfish was out of sight
Very slowly, hr turned back again and I
looked at us. We shuffled our feet. I
CONSULATE
CHAPTER IV
A Britf Drttj On Mars
O UR VISITOR began piUi^f equipment
otit oi the car and on the »antl. He
fitted this in that, one doojigger into another
d<uhtckey. A crazy-angln!, shiny machine
look shape which was moved against our
little cra^ honx away from home. He
‘climbed into it and twirle<t thingumajigs
with hl« tentacles.
A small bubble formed around the ma*
chine, attached to the gray haze.
‘‘Air-lafk,’' Fatty told rnc. "He's making
an air-lock so that he can come in without
having our air helch Into the desert. Mart
ha* no atmosphere to speak of.”
Hewasrient. An opening appeared in the
graynest and Kid Tentacles sucked through
slightly above water level. He was siia-
peMed in the air like that for a while, con-
sidering us.
Without waniing, be dropped down into
the water— only he splashra — and out of
sight. We hurried to the side and looked
down.
He was resting on the bottom, all bis
'entacies extwided out at the mackerel which
was scrounged up hard against the wall of
gray, its tail curved behind it. A bunch of
l>ubblcs dripped up to the surface from the
■ yliader'i mid-section and burst.
I didn't gel iL "Wonder what he wants
of that poor mackerel. He’s sure scaring it
silly. It must think he's the Grim Airier.”
The moment I’d opened my mouth, the
blue and white fellow started rising. He
I came up over the side and hit our deck with
a wet sound from the base of his pedestal
A couple of tentacles uncoiled at us. We
I moved bach. One of the holes in his mid-
I section expanded, twisted like a mouth in
\ the middle of a stutter. Then in a rumbling.
I terrifically deep baas:
“You— -ah — are the intelligent life from
F-arih? Ah. I did not expect two,"
"English!'' we both yelped.
"Correct language? Ah. 1 think so. You
--ah. are Kew English, but F.nglish is cor-
rect language. .This language has been
dreefed into me — ah. dreefed is not right —
so that I could adjust correctly. But ex-
cuse me. Ah, I oidy expected one and I
fT
didn’t know whether you w'ere marine or
land form. Ah. I thought at first — Permit
me: my name is Blizei-Ri-Ri-Bel."
"Mine’s Myers.” Fatty stepjied forward
and shook a tentncle. taking control of tlie
situation as he always did. "This is my
pal. Paul Garland. 1 |iies‘ you’re here to
give us the score?”
"To give you the score." Blizel echoeA
"To adjust. To make the choice. To ex-
plain. To — ”
Fatty raised a pudgy haJid and headed
him off. “What hapjiened to the other
Martian?"
Blizel coiled two of his tentacles into a
braid. "No. ah. other Martian, that. 1 am
Martian, ah. and representative of Martian
Government. It-Of-Sboin is Ambassador
from Shoin.”
"Shoin?"
"Shoin. Galactic nation, ah, of which our
system is a province. Slioin is nation of this
galaxy and other galaxies, .^h, it in turn
IS part of larger nation whose name we do
not know. Tt-Of Shoin, llie. ah. ambaasador,
haa. ah. already decided which of you will
be best iHit has not tc>ld me, Ah. I must
make chmee myself to prove partially our
capabilities, ah. and our readiness to assume
complete citizenship in Shoin. This is diffi-
cult as we. ah, arc but five limes as advanced
as you, to round the numbers."
"You want to find out which of us is
best? For what?”
“To stay as diplomatic functionary 60
that your people will be able to come here
and there as they could now, but for the
barrier of forces m balance which has heen
dreefed, ah. aliout your planet and satellite.
This barrier has protected you from un-
warranted intrusion, ah. as well as pre-
vented you from unexpectedly, ah. appearing
in a civilized part of Shoin to your detri-
ment. It-Of Shoin on your planet has been
more interested in observing the develnp-
ment of the intelligent life-forms at the core
of your planet than on its surface, no dis-
credit, ah, intended, It-Of Shoin was un-
aware you had acquired space travel ”
“It-Of-Shoin on Fjirth,” Fatty mused.
"The one who sent us here The Aml>a.s.sa>
dor to Earth, hey?”
T he Martian twisted his tentacles in
genuine embarrassment. His wliite
streaks got broader. “Ah. Earth di«s not
require ambassador as yet. ItOf-Shoin is.
THSILUKO WONDEB gTORIKS
«
ah, a — y«a, a coniul. To all the intelligent
lif^fortna of. ah, Earth. Ah. I will return.”
He ploi^d backwards Into the smaller
bobble wMch was hla air-lock and started
4ol1ecting inachinery.
Fatty and I compared notes.
All of our galaxy and several others
were part of a federation called “Sholn."
Mar* wa* practically ready to join or be ae-
eepted Into the federation whose other mem-
bers they considered pretty terrific operators.
Ea^ was a backwaid planet and only rated
a consul who wa* an '‘Tt-From-Sboln.'' He
had a much higher r^ard for several other
specimen* of IHe he'd found on our planet
than for man. Nevertheless, we'd surprised
him by giving out with space ship* long be
fore we ahopid have. The»e ships hadn't
been able to go anywhere else than the moon
b^UiSe of something called "forcos-in-bal-
ance” wliioh acted as a barrier both within
and wlthoiit-
For sane reason, a repretontative of Earth
was needed on Mars. This consul had
acooted up one ni^t and grabbed us oif.
■WTien w?d arrived on Mars, the Shoinlan
ambassador had injected us and decided
which he wanted. Did that mean that one
of u* could return? And what about the
other ?
Anywavs, ho was too all-fired superior to
tell the Martians which was the luck^ man.
He’d taught some govcnuiicnt official our
language by “dreefing" and it wa* up to the
Martian from then on. The Martian, for all
his humbleness, thought he was at least five
times as good as we were. Finally, hi*
English wasn’t too good.
"Maybe he was only dreefed once,” I sug
gested. “And it didn’t take.” I was nervous:
we were still being treated too casually.
“What's with thl* dreefing?” Fatty asked
Blitel when he jilopped ba^ on deck with
a couple of tentacleloads of equipment.
“They-Of-Sholn alone can dreef. We, ah,
of Mars niu*t use machinery still. Dreef is
not the image but a constniction of an, ah,
of a transliteration for your delight. They-
Of-Shoin dreef by, ah, utiliring force-patterns
of what you cal! cosmos? Thus any product
can be realised into, ah, existence— whether
material or otherwise. Now testing for you.”
The Martian was presenting us with vari-
ous gadgets on which colored lights flick-
ered. Wc found lliat he wanted us to match
switches with the colored lights in certain
Mtterns but we couldn't seem to get any of
them tight.
While he wu (da)r{ng around with the
toys. Fatty asked innocently what would hap-
pen if we refused to split up and leave one
of us here. The Martian replied Innocently t
one of u* would be left here, as we had no
choice since we couldn't do a thing unless ws
were allowed to by them.
Fatty told him of the presence on Earth of
very brilliant men who knew calculus and
suchlike and would give both eyeteeth and
maybe an eye or so for the chance to spend
their live* on Mara. These men, he pointed
out. would he much more interesting for the
Martians to have mroimd, mayhe even for
They-Of-Shoin too, than a small-town grocer
and serviceman who had both flunked ele-
mentary a^ebra.
"Ah, T think,” Blitel delicately eom-
mented, “that you overestimate the gulf be-
tween their intellects and yours. In our
views."
Fatty was elected. HI* experience with
motors turned the trick. I congratulated him.
He looked nauseously at me.
BHsel withdrew, saying that he expected
Patty to go with him on a little trip to their
"sHmp’’ — which we decided wa* a city of
sorts. He would bring Fatty hack to “ah, or-
ganize farewell” if it tiirn^ out that Fatty
was the right candidate. He was awfully
nervous about the whole proposition himself.
A TTY shook his round head at the
Martian who was building a small bub-
ble outside of ours for transportation pur-
poses.
"You ktww, we can't really blame those
guys. They have troubles of their own, after
all. They're trying to gel into a galactic fed-
eration on equal terms with some big-shots
and they want to prove themselves. They
feel like rookie* going into a pnie with a
world-series pitcher to bat against.. But I
don’t get the way they crawl and suck around
these Shoiners. They need a little backbone.
When you come right down to it, they're
nothing hut exploited natives, and everyone
thinks well t>c the same, but on a lower
level."
"Wait'll we get here. We'll stiffen these
Martians, Fatty. Well get the system free
of galactic imperialists, with our atom bombs
and all. Bet our scientisU have this forces-
in-balanee thing licked in no time. And
dreefing, too.”
roNStn^'fTc 8»
"Sur«. Think of it — another Hfe-fonn,
maybe more than one, in the core of the
Earth with this It-From-Shoin leading them
not into the path of temptation. Golly ! And
these Martians here with their civilization,
and no felling what other intelligent char-
I acters we have acattered between Mercury
and Pluto. A whole etnpre, Paul, bi^er
I ^n anything on Earth — all controlled by
those green jellies!”
Blizel finished building the bubble and
Fatty went into it through the air-lock. It
was darker than the one he left behind. I
gubssed Blizel wasn’t as skilled as that fel-
low down in Cassowary Cove.
The Martian got Isick into his machine
and started off. Fatty’s bubble floated along
above it.
I spent about ten or twelve hours on Mars
alone. Night fell, and I watched two moons
chase across the sky. Some sort of big snake
wriggled up out of the sand, looked at roe
and went away on his own private big deal.
No more steak dinners came down, and I
actually found myself missing the stuff.
When Fatty and Blizel returned, the
\ Martian stayed outside and tinkered with the
equipment. Fatty came back through the air-
I lock slowly.
I He was licking his lips and sighing in half
breaths, I got scared.
“Fatty, did they harm you ? Did they do
anything drastic?"
"No. Paul, they didn't.” he said quietly.
"I've just been through a — well, a f"** ex-
perience.”
He patted the mast gently before continu-
ing. "rve seen the slintp, and it's really not
a city, not as we understood cities. It's as
much like New York or Boston as New
York or Boston is like an ant-hill or bee-hive.
Just because Blizel spoke our language and
t spoke it poorly, we had him j>egged as a sort
of ignorant foreigner. Paul, it's not that way
at all. These Martians are so far above us.
beyond us. that I’m amazed. They've had
space travel for tiumsands of yms. They’ve
been to the stars and every planet in llie sys-
tem that isn’t restricted. Imanue and Earth
are restricted. Barriers.
"But they have colonies and scientists on
all the others. 'They have atomic power and
stuff after atomic power and stuff after that.
And yet they look up to these fellows from
Shoin so much that you can just begin to
I Imagine. They’re not exploited, iust watched
and helped. And these fellowa from Shoio,
tliey'rc part of a bigger federation which I
don’t quite understand, and they're watched
and guarded smd helped too— by other things.
The universe is old. Paul, and we’re new-
comsrs, such terribly-ncw newcomers 1 I
wonder what it will do to our pride when we
find it out.”
There was a dollop of quietness while
Fatty slapped the mast and I frowned at him.
They must have done something to the poor
^y. his backbone had done slipped right out.
Some devilish machine, they probably had.
Once Fatty was back on Earth he'd be nor-
ma] again — the same old cocky Fatty Myers.
"Are — are you acceptable?”
"Yeah, I'm acceptable. The ambassador —
It-From-Shoin.” he said with more res]>ect
in his voice than I'd ever heard before, "says
I'm the one he picked. You should have
seen the way Blizel and his crowd bucked
up when they heard that! Now you have to
get back to Earth. Blizel will fix the bubble
BO you’ll have more variety in your meals
and can let them know what’s what. When
humans start coming here regularly, they
can appoint another man to handle affairs
and. if he's acceptable to Shoin and Mars, I
can go back.”
"Fatty, what if I can't get anyone to be-
lieve me?"
H e shrugged. "I don’t know what
happens in that case. Blizel tcHa me
that if you can't operate successfully enough
to get man through the barrier in a riz or
two, they will conclude that he isn't enough
of an intellect as yet to warrant their interest.
You've just got to do it. Paul, because 1 don’t
know what happens to me if you don't, and
from what I can see. nobody up here cares
much."
"Meanwhile, you'll be all right?"
"I’ll be preparing a sort of city for Elarth-
men to live tn on Mars. If you send any
folks in the right channels, I'm supposed to
verify them and greet tliem when they ar-
rive. ni explain the setup as one human to
another. Makes me out as an official greeter,
doesn’t it?"
After Blizel finished tinkering with the
boxes, he applied another spot of color near
the top and 1 shot away from Mara. The
return trip was pretty lioring, and the mack-
erel died on the way. There were a lot of dif-
ferent dishes served, and I was able to keep
THRILUNG WOXDEB STORIES
7»
up my interesrt in food, hut everything had a
soapv taste.
Blizd just wasn’t up to that guy in Caaso*
wary Cove — no two ways about it.
I landed on the same spot from which
we’d taken off — two months before, as I
found.
TTie bubble dissolved as 1 hit the water. I
didn't bother to sail the sloop in. but dived off
the deck and swam ashore.
It felt good to be able to swim a distance
in a strai^t line.
It seems that there were folks who wanted
to hold a funeral for us, but Edna had put
her foot down. She insisted that so long as
no wreckage was found, she'd consider me
alive.
I’d probably turn up in Europe one fine
day with Fatty, she told them,
So when I walked into the grocery, being
Edna, she merely turned to face me, She
asked me where I’d been. Mars, I said. She
hasn't spoken to me since.
A reporter from our local paper inter-
viewed me that night and wrote up a crazy
story about how I'd claimed I had estab-
lished consulates all over the solar system. I
hadn’t; I’d Just told him niy friend Fatty
Myers was the acting-consul for Earth on
Mars.
The story was reprinted in one of the
Boston papers as a little back-page squib
with a humorous illustration. That’s all.
I’ve been going crazy since trying to get
someone to believe me.
Femember. lliere's a time limit: one riz,
two at the most.
For the last time, then, to anyone who's in-
terested in space travel after all I’ve said:
Stop knocking yourself out trying to break
through a barrier of forces-in-balaDce that
isn't meant to be broken throu^. You have
to come down to Cassowary Cove and take
a boat out and wait for It-From-Shoin to ap-
pear. I’ll help, and you can be sure tliat
when it gets to him, Fatly Myers will verily
and do whatever else is necessary. But you
won't be able to go to Venus or Mars any
other way.
You need a visa.
CHEAP POWER
FROM THE ATOM BY
1960
'T’WO War Department scientists, Drs. Henry T. Wenzel and Ralph E. I^pp,
^ have recently made the statement that low-cost atomic power will be availaUe
to mankin d within a dozen years.
A pair of engineering problems must be solved, however, belorc other sources of
power take a back seat. They are:
1. Obtaining structural materials which will stand up under the high tempera-
tures of the atomic pile.
2. Getting efficient amounts of heat out of the system.
Atomic piles, according to Dr. Lapp, will not detonate like atom bombs. But,
unless the extreme heat which they generate is conducted away in time, they will
tend to melt.
Probably the iifst applications of the new power will be in situations where cost
is not a main faaor, as in naval vessels, or in the Antarctic, where other scmrccs
of beat are our available. But — peaceful use of die aium is ua the way!
f?
o
F COURSE
:’d b« de*
Hght«<I to
have you, Oona dearest.”
Iciyzelle Cabot-Cabot said
in her high, drawling voice.
"But. really. I didn’t
know you sang.”
Oona swallowed. “Oh,
she said brightly In-
to the video. "Fve taken
it up recently. My teacher
seems to think I show a
•ood deal of promise."
Her conscience needn’t
hurt her — what she had
said might not be true
right now. but she was
sure it would be at toon
The
METAL
LAUK
By
NAI^GARET
ST. CLAIK
Oona, woman of the tu-
tuie, decides to have the
voice of a concert singer!
71
at the Metal Lark came.
So it wasn’t a fib.
“Oh — well, that’s ^ien-
did." Mrs. Cabot-(.abot
groped liehind her for a
stylo — the Cabot-CaboU
were so rich that it was
probably solid palladium
and thoM stones in the top
must be .Martian emeralds
— held it poised over a
writing pad. "What ^hall
we pul you down for? A
group of .wmgs?"
Owa nodded. She had
devoted a lot of thought to
what she wanted to sing at
her club's annual concert —
something simple (Oona
THBILUNG WONDEB STORIES
a
didn't want th« girls to get the idea that she
was trying to break into stereopera — why,
she wouldn’t even consider It), yet something
which would show off her voice.
"A group of folk songs.'^ she said. She
named three or four titles.
Joyeelle Cabot-Cabot wrote them down
in her dashing backhand while Oona stared
at the older woman's hair-fix. It was lots loo
fussy. All those rhinestones and miragems
were in terrible taste. Where had Joyzelle
got it and how much had it cost?
“Now don't forget, darling, we're counting
on you," Mrs. Cahot-Cabot said when she
had finished. "The concert is on the seven-
teenth, a month from next Saturday. I've
got you down for the third number on the
program. Don’t forget.’’
"Oh, r won’t.” The 17th of next month,
Oona thought after she had hung up, and
her birthday was on the I3th of this one.
Over a month for her to work with the Melal
Lark on getting her voice into shape. That
ought to be plenty of time.
OoTia got me prospectus of the Metal Lark
Company (a* division of Interstellar Elec-
tronics) out of her hand case and carefully
studied it.
"In your home twenty-four hours a day.”
it began, “the finest vocal teacher in the
world ! '■ Tlicn there was a lot of stuff about
precision engineering in the Metal Lark’s
electronic brain and the lyric wonder of the
voice you can have and something ahoiil the
revolutionary cortical synthesis of neutrons
and positrons in a vital imbalance.
The prospectus ended with the words.
"What do you mean— you can’t sing? All
TOti mean is — you’ve nc^’er owned a Metal
l,ark!’’
‘"Mm, yes.” How could she go wrong with
a thing like that? A montlt — why, probably
she’d he singing like a lark within two weeks,
even though Jick had said once in a burst nf
frankness that she sounded more like the
steam coming out of a teakettle when she
sang than anything else he could think of.
All her life she'd wanted to have a good
voice. Now she was going to.
That is, she was going to if Jick gave her
a Metal Lark for her birthday. She was
practically certain he would — she'd hinted
and hinted and shown him the prospectus and
left magazines, open at the marked Metal
Lark ad, lying around for him to see.
Still, Jidc cuulJ be awfully — well, dumb,
sometimes. Last year, for instance, she'd
wanted a string <A Venusian pearls (those
from the deep near Aphrodition were the
finest, but they were ail simply lovely) and
she’d hinted nearly as much as she had about
the Metal I>ark.
A nd what had he giv«i her? A fifteeri-
piece set of Ever-duhr cooking wear.
It had a ninety-nine year guarantee, and it
cooked by remote control, which was awfully
convenient. It was a lot more original of
him. really, to think of that than it would
have been to get her the pearls. But she
couldn’t help feeling that tne pearls would
have had more of what the ads called “the
riuality of wonderment.”
The video chimed softly.
"Mr. Ritterbush in ?” the man in the view-
ing plate said when she had answered it.
“This is the hardware store.”
"He’s not here. Can I take the message?"
"Will you tell him the wholesaler’s all out
of the Standard mj^del Metal Lark? He
won’t have any more of them before the end
of the month. But he'll let me have one of the
super clc luxe jobs, with all sorts of special
engineering features, for the same price as the
Standard, if that’ll be all right. 1 thought
I’d better ask Mr. Ritterbush before I went
ahead and ordered it.”
Wliy, the sweet old diiiigl: Here Jick had
gone and had the Metal Lark on order for
her all the time she'd been fretting so over
it? What a great big electronic anget be wa*l
But he mustn’t know the hardware store had
given his .surprise for her away.
“You’d b^er talk to him about it," Oona
said into the receiver. “Unh — please don't
say you mentioned it to me, will you?"
After the hardware dealer, sworn to se-
crecy, had hung up. Oona paced excitedly
about the romn. She couldn’t sit still. She
felt like turning handspring.
She could see herself, wearing her new
bice-green dress with the fluorescent hemline
(she'd need new wristlets and new slippers —
it would be nice if she could find a pair with
fluorescent heels), standing on the stage and
bowing to right and left as they applauded
her.
And she knew Just how her new voice was
going to sound, too— rich and golden, clear
as a bell on the high notes and sort of velvety
on the deeper ones. It would be the sort of
voice Pola Australis, her favorite stereo star,
had. A whole week yet till her birthday I
Gee, she could hardly wait.
THE METAL LAKK 73
The <lay came at last. Jick. after Anishiiig,
“ — and one to grow on !” iriuniphantly, went
Into his closet and c«n>e out puffing under the
weight of a htjgc box.
"Happy birthday, angel girl,” he said,
piUtiiig it down in front of her. "Open it
up."
Oona pulled at the preentitex zipper. The
box fell away from its enclosure.
"Do you like it. honey?" Jick asked with a
liiiif of aiiAieiy. "It's a Metal Lark. 1 sort
of got the idea frnm something you said that
you might like to have one.”
Oona found her tongue. "It’s just exaaly
what 1 wanted, Jick." she said warmly. “1
was crazy to Iwve one. But f*m a little sur-
prised: I didn’t think it would be this big.”
Somehow, she'd had the idea that it woukl
be about the size of a metronome ; the Metal
Lark was shaped like a metronome, all right,
but it was aiino.st a meter and a half tall
and its whole surface was covered with glassy-
protuberances. It looked as efficient as eotild
be.
“It has to l)c big, honey, to heJd all the
machinery." Jick explained. "It's the super
de luxe model, the ^st they make. I hope
yon enjoy it.”
"Oh, I nnll! What are those big things
around the bottom, sort of like eyes?"
"1 don’t know. Wait, here’s the instnic-
tion book.” Jick groped at lire back of the
Metal I.ark anrl came nut with a small iridi-
wrapped booklet. He banded it to her.
While Jick looked over her shoulder Oona
opened it and read, "To get the most out trf
your new. super de luxe Metal Lark, we
suggest the following proceilure: One — plug
iheMetal I.ark into an eler'trir rirciiit: "Two
— allnw at least five minutes for the cortical
syntheses of the electronic brain to warm up;
■Three — take the two proce.«5cs f figure one)
on cither side «)P the Metol Lark and — ’’
"Gee, baby, IVe got to go.” Jick said,
loriklng at his chronometer. "Be late to
work r He embraced her ardently but htir-
ricdly and sprinted for the door. "^Re sure to
tell me all about it ton^ht,” he said and was
gone.
I EFT alone. Oona opened the instruction
J book again "Plug the Metal Lark into
an electric circuit.” Well, that should be
easy. While she was wailing for the elec-
tronic hrain tn warm up, .she went on with
the sentence she had been reading when
Jick bad had to leave.
"Take the two processts” — they must be
those fiexible things with plates on their end
at the sides of the Metal Lark — "and apply
the terminal tlisks to each side of the throat.
Relax completely and endeavor to make the
mind a blank — Yhis period of relaxation is
necessary so that the Metal I.«rk may analyze
the structure of your larynx and throat.
"Four — after laryngeal analysis is com-
plete, apply terminal disks to cither side of
the sternum (see figure two). Be sure lungs
are fuUy inflated when di>k» are applied. Re-
tain air in lung* while — "
She could go on to that later. The (|ues*
tion now wa^— had the electronic brain of
die Metal I .ark warmed up enough? Oona
looked at the machine speculatively. The
glassy wart* on its surface had begun tn light
up in shatles of purple and blue, so that U
looked like a cross between a Christmas tree
and an illuminated pine cone. Oh, it murr
be five minutes by now.
Rather gingerly, Oona picked up one of
the processes (it had a peculiar half-alive feel,
like a sluggish caterpillar) and applie<i the
disk to her throat, just under the curve of
the jaw. She followed suit with the .second
process. She began to relax and make her
mind a blank.
It was diffiailt to do. The disks kept
wriggling about and vibrating faintly in a
way that made Oona feel fidgety instead of
relaxed. And whenever she'd .try to make
her mind a blank she’d find she was thinking
about the new slippers .she’d need and won-
dering whether she should get them in bice
to match her dress or in champignon, be-
cause it went with everything.
On the whole, perhaps champignon would
be better, especially if she had her hair done
in verd antique to pick up the color of her
dres.s. Or Iinw atwut chrysiilitc? It —
"H’nmi.” *«id the Mrt.nl Lark.
Oona jumped. She hadn’t been expecting
it to say anything — and anyhow, where was
its voice coming from? There wa,*n’t any
opening in the surface of the Metal Lark that
she could see.
"H'mm." it repeated. “Repeat after me,
please — mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi,”
Oona threw back her head and took a deep
breath. ‘'Mt-mi-mi-rni-nii-nii," ahe caroled
obediently.
She h^ an unreasonable impression that
(he Metal Lark winced. "Again,” it said.
"Mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi ! ”
"Yes. Now. this- ah '-iiha-aha-aka-aha."
THBILLING WONDEB STORIES
"Aha-aha-aha-aha-aha.''
''H’mm,*' said die Metal Lark for the third
time. There was a silence while the blue
lights inside turned to cattkya and back to
blue again. “Go on to stage four,” it said.
*T your pardon?”
“Stage four in the instruction book. Apply
the terminal disks to either side of the
Sternum, being sure the lungs are fully in-
flated. ...”
"Wrll, liaby, bow'd it go?” Jick said when
he came home that night. "How do you like
your present? By the way, get into your best
clothes, kid — we’re eating out.”
"Oh, really?"
"Sure. I got a tabic reserved at the Golden
Rhnx Club. Celebration.”
Over their glasses of soma and rhtun,
while the orchestra in the background played
softly on malimbas and lignin bubbles, she
told him of her dealings with the Metal Lark
during the day.
"It says the construction of my larynx is
quite unusual,” she finished, “and my voice
has never been properly plawd. All my life
I've bedn trying to sing too high."
"That’s interesting.”
"Um-hum. It gave me a whole bunch of
exercises to do. Voice exercises, breathing
exercises, posture exercises — there's even
one exercise in snifRing.”
"Yeah, I noticed you talk as if your throat
were sore. Do you like it. kid?”
"Why, I’m just crasy about it. Jick I"
I TNDER the table, Jick sjiueezed her
} hand. "Let’s polk,” he said.
"Listen, Oona,” Jick said a trifle nervously
on the fifteenth or sixteenth day after he had
given her the Metal Lark. "I don't want to
say anything out of turn, but don’t you think
maybe that thing’s placing your voice a little
too low? Gee, swectlieart. sometimes you
sound like a lush in a tap room or a tenor
with 8 bad cold.”
Oona shook her head vehemently. “No,”
she answered hii.skily, with somewhat more
emphasis than mere denial called for. "Not
a bit! It's just the in-between period, Jick,
don’t you see ? Pretty soon 1*11 b^n to sound
wonderful. Why. I have perfect confidence
In tlie Metal Lark!”
On the fourth day before the concert was
scheduled. Oona broke down. Wien Jick
chimed at the door tiiat evening, she threw
herself into his arms and dissolved in tears.
"It’s all that darned old machine's fault,”
she said in the hoarse, froggy tones that now
served as her voice. "I just ftata it! Here I
thought I was going to have such a wonderful
voice and I can't even talk ! And the concert’s
only four days away ! Oh, Jick, darling, what
am T going to do?”
Jick had been holding her against his
chest, making soothing murmur.s and attempt-
ing to comfort her. Now he drew back and
stared at her.
“Concert?" he demanded. "What con-
cert?”
“My dub’s annual concert,” Oona an-
swered hoarsely. "Mrs. Cabot-Cabot imt me
down for a group of four songs. I didn't tel!
you about it before because I wanted to sur-
prise you.”
"lay heavens!”
“well, don’t just .stand there.” Oona re-
torted with a touch of spirit. "You’ve got to
help me, Jick. You've just got to fix it up!”
Jick's jaw set. He went into the living
room and rang a number on tlic video. He
talked over it for quite a long time while
Oona blotted at her e>'es and wondered if
her lash-do had smeared very much.
"It's all right," he reported when he came
back. “I called the hardware dealer and gave
him hades. It seems that they’ve had trouble
with this special de luxe mode! before. The
imbalance in the electronic brain is so great
that the thing is always going nut of whack.
I told him we’d sue and he said he was sure
the company would be willing to make any
reasonable settlement out of court.”
Oona sniffled despairingly. “How’s that
going to do me any goc^?” she croaked
miserably. "Even if we do get a lot of money
out of it I still won't be able to sing at the
concert Mrs. Cabot-Cabot will tell every-
body and you know that way she has of
talking — lots of gush and yet with a sort of
sneer.
"She's called me up five times in the last
week and a^ed me if I'm sure I’ll be able to
sing. I just know she hopes I'll make a fool
of myself. Oh, Jick. I just can’t stand it —
you don’t know how I'd set my heart on it!"
Jick pondered for a moment, folding his
lower lip betw'cen his thumb and forefinger.
Then l»e went back to the video.
"Skinner's coming over,” he reported
when he returned. "Maybe he can think of
some way to help you out.”
"Skinner?” Oona honked.
"Sure. Don't you remember him ? He was
at the water polo tournamcat. Kind of a
75
THE METAL LARK
tall thin guy."
"Kind of a tail thin guy" — Oona searched
in her memory. She had a dim recollection
of a dark bright-eyed man with rumpled liair.
He’d worn white lumiflan trousers, hadn’t
he? He must be the one whose long, thin
legs and sharp nose had reminded her of a
heron or a crane.
"He’s doing his intemeship at City Hos-
pital now,’’ Jiclc went on. “He wants to
specialize in diseases of the throat. Sound
engineering is a sort of hobby of his."
Oh. a doctor. Well, it might be all right
even if he was one of Jick’s friends. Perhaps
he'd be able to do sonielhing for her tliroat,
give her a gargle or a spray that-would bring
it back to normal. But when you came right
down to it, what good would that do? She'd
still sound like the steam coming out of a
teakettle when she tried to sing. The tears
began to run down Oona’s cheeks again.
S KINNER, when he arrived, was even
more like a crane than Oona had re-
membered him. She wouldn’t have been
surprised to see him stand on une leg and
make a quick CTab with his beak at a fat
little fish. But his manner was reassuringly
professional,
"Wider, please,” he said, looking down
her throat with a light-conduit. "As mr back
as you can. Oh, myl What havt you been
doing to that throat to get it into that condi-
tion, Mrs. Ritterbush ? Oh. myl"
Oona told him. croaking out the story of
her relationship with the Metal Lark in a
factitious basso piofundo.
“A concert in four days?” Skinner said
when she had finished. ''Impossible. Why,
even with complete rest that throat won’t b«
back to normal in less than a week. Oh, my 1 ”
Oona stared at him for a moment and then,
for the second time that evening, hurst into
wild tears.
“Well, now, Bob,” Jick said. The two men
had been pacing nervously about the room
for nearly half an hour, looking obliquely at
Oona, who was still crying, from time to
time. "How would it be if we were to wire
her for sound?”
“I mean by that, get disks of those songs
she’s going to sing, ‘cast them to her over
that short wave outfit of yours and have her
pick them up on a little old-fashioned radio
set. Some of those seta are quite small, only
about twelve centimeters square and four or
five thick, and she could wear the set in the
front of her dress.
“Of course she’d hava to synchronize the
movement of her lips with the words of the
songs but she’s got four days to practise that
in. I don't know why it wouldn’t work.”
“How about it, Mrs. Ritterbnsh ?" Skinner
asked, turniiig to Oona.
Oona shook her head. Didn’t Jick know
anything about women's clothes, as long as
they’d been married and everything?
“It would show, ” she brought out froggily,
"dress hasn’t any front." She began, crying
again. She knew her nose was red and her
eyelids w'cre swollen. Bui what difference
did it make? Nothing mattered now.
The men resumed their floor-pacing.
Several kilometers later. Skinner spoke.
"I’ve thought of something which might
conceivably help solve our problem.” he
announced. "It’s the idioplastic larynx Mc-
Grttor's been working with."
"McGregor’s your chief, isn’t he?” Jick
asked.
"Yes. He's been interested for a long time
in what to do for people who have had laryn-
gotomies, and he was telling me a week or
so ago that dinica! experience indicated that
this larynx might be the answer."
"’3 it work?" Oona queried. Weeping, on
top of the havoc the Metal Lark had pre-
viously wrought, had impaired her voice to
the point where she was hardly intelligible.
"Eh? Oil, it’s really an artificial larynx
with a tiny built-in motor. It translates
nervous impulses into sounds in the same
way that the normal larynx does.* The sound
is made by thinking it.
"The only difficulty would be in fitting it
to Mrs. Ritterbush. Ordinarily, even when
there has been a section of the larynx, a num-
ber of fittings is necessary and that takes
several weeks. Let me think.”
Skinner strode about the room, ruffling
up his hair. "Well.” he said at last, "as far
as I can see there’s no real reason why we
shouldn’t fit a very small larynx to Mrs.
Ritterbush since the use is to be only tem-
porary. And that would do away witli the
need for accurate determination of size.”
. . hurt?” Oona boomed.
“I beg your pardon. I didn't — oh, I see.
No, it wouldn’t hurt. Some patients report
soreness at first but that’s Mcause they’re
unconsciously trying to use the natural
larynx inate^ of letting the idioplastic one
do the work.”
. .sound?” Oona asked.
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
It
This tinK Skinner was baffled. Jick had to
Interpret.
“I think she wants to know how her
voice would sound with it,” he uid a little
doubtfully. ” Unless her singing voice would
-AP pretty good there’s no use in botlicrbig
with the larynx.”
"That would depend on her,” Bob Skinner
answered. "It's all a matter how clear
an idea she has of the sound she wants to
make. If she thinks a sound of good quality,
if she keeps a sound of good quality hrnily
In mind, that's the kind of sound she'll come
out with. Most of the people who have been
fitted with the idioplaslic larynx report that
Ihcii yokes are much belter than befoic.
”My advice to Mrs. Ritterbush would he
to spend her lime between now and the
concert listening to some good singer’s ver-
sion of the songs she’s going to smg. And
we'll get busy hunting that extra-small
larynx for her."
Oona wiped her eyes. She wished she
Iiadn’t cried so much. Things were going to
be fixed up and now she looked perfectly
terrible! What had been the sense in it?
. .get sing.” she croaked. "Sing — after
all.”
“You bet you will, honey,” Jick said.
“Like a lark.”
f j*OUR days later Oona. wearing the bice-
green dress complete with gamishings,
stood in front of Bob Skinner, The idio-
jilastic laiyii^ had only just come, McGregor
had been unable to supply the correct sire
and they had had to send to Siberia, to the
Children’s Hospital in Omsk, to get it.
From the other side of the curtahi Oona
could hear the burz and Inirn of the aiulience.
She tried not to think al>oul it Joyrelle
Cabot-Caboi had been calling her on the
video all morning to tell her how sorry she
wa.s that her voice was gone and she
wouldn’t be able to sing.
Although Oona lead told her each lime that
she was sure to be all right by the time of
the concert, she hadn't entirely believed it
herself. By now .she was so nervous that sjie
felt a little sick.
"Open wide, please.” Skinner aaid. TTe
was dangling the larynx in front of her nose.
It was a small, pinkish, shriveled object, like
ft laby’s sock which has been shrunk In the
wash. Oona inoked at it apprehensively,
closed her eyes and obeyed.
For a horrible moment Otma thought she
was going to choke to death end then she
could breathe once more.
"How does it feel?” Skinner asked.
Oona opened her eyes. "Fine,” she replied
in ringing bell-like tones.
Skinner looked at her almost with awe.
"My — what a difference it’s made in your
voice!” he said. “Well — good luck.”
“Thank you."
I be accompanist struck the first few notes
of “Dark Eyes.” The curtain went up. Oona,
her knees all quiverv. walked out on the
stage.
Joyzelle Cabot-Cabot was silting in the
second row, so close that Oona could see the
sapphires in her ringci tiail sheaths. She was
looking through an almsndine lorgnon at the
program, her eyebrow? slightly raised. Some-
thing in the sight irritated Oona so much
that she forgot all about being nervous. She
leaned negligently again.st the harpsiano and
waited until the accnmpSnist gave her her
cue. She opened her mouth.
What came out was a revelation to Ooim.
.^hc sounded exactly like Pola Australis,
only a little truer and more clear, If the
Metal I-ark had been everything it was ad-
vertised to be. she couldn't have sounded
better. Oh, gee. She meant. Oh. fjegt
•She finished. There was an inatanl’)* utter
silence while she wondered what was wrong.
Then came a crash, a thuuder of applause.
People were pressing the third button «m the.
backs of their seats, the one marked Ovahon.'
Oona stood by the harpsiano, bowing from
side to side and smiling gracinnsly, just a«
she had imagined she would. But better than
the applause, better than the way her vokei
had sounded, better than anything, was the
jealous, pale-green look on Joyzelk Cahot-
Cahot'.s face.
The applause after Oona's next song. "The
Four G^erals”, was even more insistent,
and Oona was still acl<nowledging it when
she noticed that Juyxelle had left’ her seat
and pushing past everyone out into the aisle.
Puzzled, Oona watched her stalking toward
the hack of the auditorium.
"Barsutt-liarsm" was an even greater
success than "The Four Generals" had been.
People had stopped using the applause but-
tons long ago and were dapping their hands
together furiously, and somenody In the
audience waa shouting. "Bravo [” and “Bis I”
Between buwa Oona looked around the audi-
torium for Joyzelle but couldn't find her
She must have gone home.
THE METAL LARK
The accompanUt played the first few bars
of Oona's last number, "Gine Heut’ Mor-
gen." Oona cqwned her Hps. The lights went
out.
The audience stirred uneasily. Some-
body coughed nervously down in front. After
a moment, a high, feminine voice in the rear
called. “Lighul" Oona tried to go on with
her song and couldn’t. Her accompanist had
gone backstage to hunt the electronist and,
anyhow. peojMe were making too much noise.
‘‘l.et’s get out of here!” the unknown
woman called again. "I'm not going to stay
here in the dark!” There was a bang and a
thump, as if she hsd decided to follow her
own advice. Somebody shouted "Lights!”
a few more times, and then hiir^s and bangs
became increasingly audible. Everybody m
the auditorium, it appeared, was trying to
get from his seat into the aisle.
Oona stO(^ in the middle of the darkened
sb^, struggling with tears. The lights had
gone out $0 unexpectedly (or been put out —
but this was no time to go into that) and
everything had happened so fast that Oona
was bewildered.
One thing was sure, her program was
ruined unless she did something. There
might even be a panic. Wasn't there any-
thing she could do ? Wasn't there anything
slie could sing — something good and loun,
something that would make them stop before
somebody got hurt?
Oona drew a deep breath. She clenched
her hands. She stepped forward to the edge
of the stage, her fluorescent hemline a wan
gleam in the dark. Of course she hadn't
ractispd it but she'd heard it a million times,
he inhaled deeply once again.
"From pole to pole the mighty nations,
from pole to pole the human race. ..." Oona
had bwun to sing “The United Nations
Battle Hymn.”
« H. SHE did it. all right," Jlck said
grimly. He turned the 'copter about
the pylon so rfiarply that the air officer on
dutv glared at them.
“Of all the dirty, foul tricks 1 I kept after
that electronist till he confessed Joyzelle
f vc him one thousand and five hundred
U.'s if he’d shut off the lights for ten
minutea. And she was the one that started
yelling for liglits and all that stuff about let’s
get out of here. She and that electronist
ought to have a year in tail each ! Somebody
might have been killed.'^
n
"But you saved the day. baby. I never
was so proud of you in niy life, kid, as I was
wh«t I heard you begin to sing the "Battle
Hymn.’ You were a real heroine."
"Aw — ” Oona said, wTiggling.
"A real heroine,” Jick repeated. "And the
audience knew it, too. All tliose Venusian
flowers tliey tossed onto the stage when you
finislied singing] And tlte dicers 1 It aounded
like the last quarter of the Inter-hemispheric
soccer final last New Year's day in tlic Soya
Bowl — You remember, it was seven tp eight
in favor of the eastern hemisphere.
"I don’t think I ever heard more noise.
They'd have you there singii^ encores yet
if you’d been willing. They loved your voice
and thought you pretty swell yourself.”
"Well—” said’Onna.
Jidt’s tone grew harsh once more. "Listen,
though, kid, what were vou talking to tltat
Cabot-Cabot slut about backstage after the
show was over? After what she tried to do
to you, I wouldn’t think you'd want to touch
her with a three meter ^le.”
Oona looked sideways at her hu.sband's
profile. Jick was an absolutdy fur angel-baby
weetareete, and she doted on him. Still, he
was a man, and sometimes men didn't under-
stand the way girls did things.
"Joyaelle didn’t know I knew she’d done
it,” she explained. "She thinks everybody’s
stupid exc^ herself.”
''Yeah. She would. But what v»erc you
talking to her about?” *
"Well, she asked me who my vocal teacher
was. She's giving a musicate at her home
next month and she thought it would be nice
if she could sing «t it. So I told her you'd
given me a Metal Ijrk.”
“A Metal Lark ?" Jick sounded startled.
"So she flaked me if she could borrow it.
She's the kind that always borrows things.
I fold her if wasn’t any good hut she didn't
believe me. She’s sendbig her chauffeur over
for it tomorrow morning.”
Oona got out her lac-bit and began going
over her face. They were nearly home now
and she wanted to look nice when the bright
lights came on in the Itangarage.
"She’s going to borrow it anyhow?”
'‘Uiu-htini, ’^Oona's answer was muffled.
The cosmetic was drying, and she didn't
want to disturb it until it had set. “It made
my throat so sore I couldn’t talk at all, and
Joysrile's voice is naturally squeaky and
high. What do you s'pose she’ll sound like,
Jick, before it's done with berf’
A Complete Novelet by
. . . . and the moon
CHAPTER 1
Voyagers From Earth
I T WAS «o cold that when they firit
came from the ship into the night,
Spender began to gather the dry Max-
tian wood and build a small fire. He didn’t
say anything about a celebration, he merely
f eathered the wood, set fire to it and watched
t bum.
In the flare that illumined the thin
air of this dried up sea of Mars he looked
over his shoulder and saw tlie rocket ship
that had brought tl^em all, Wilder and Cher-
oke, and Gibbs and McOure and himself
When Spender Stalks the Martian Hills, He
78
RAY BRADBURY
be still as bright
across a silent black space of stars to land
upon a dead, dreaming world.
Jeff Spender wait^ for the noise. He
looked at the other men and waited for them
to jump around and shout. It would happen
as soon as the numbness of being the first
men to Mars wore off.
Gibbs walked over to the freshly ignited
fire and said, "Why don’t we use the ship
chemical fire instead of tltat wood?"
“Never luiiid,” said Spender, not looking
up.
It wouldn’t be right, the first night on
Mars, to make a loud noise, to introduce a
strange silly bright thing like a stove. It
would be a kind of imported blasphemy.
Faces the Fate of an Idealist Gone Berserk!
79
RO TRRnJLTKG WONT>ER STORIES
Tht»r*'d be time for Uiat later ; time to throw
condenaed milk can* in the proud Martian
canal*, time for copies of tiie Nnv York
T'imc* to blow and caper and rustle across
the lone gray Martian aea-bottoins. time for
banana peels and picnic papers in the fiuted
delicate mins of old Martian valley towns.
Plenty of time for that. And he gax’e a small
inward shiver at the thought.
He fed liie fire by hand and it was like an
offering to a dead giant. They were on an im-
mense tomb. They had landed on a tomb
planet. Here, a civilization had died. It was
tmly simple courtesy that the first night he
spent quietly, in reverence to a world that
had once moved with life and waa now buried
and lifeless.
"This is not my idea of a landing celebra-
tion," said Gibbs. He looked at Captain
Wilder. "Sir, I thought we might break out
rashers of gin and meat and hoop it up a bit."
Captain Wilder looked off toward a dead
city, a mile away. “We’re all of us tired,’’
he said, remotely, as if his whole attention
wa.s upon the city and the men were for-
gotten. »‘‘Toinormw night, perhaps. To-
night we should be glad we got across all
that space without getting a meteor in our
bulkhead Or having one man of us die."
The men shifted around. There were
twenty of them and they stood around, some
of them holding on to each other's shoulders
quietly, SpciuUrr watched them. They were
not satisfied. They had ri.sked their live* to
do a big thing, and now they wanted
to be shouting drunk anti firing off guns to
show how wonderful they were to have
kicked 8 hole in space anti ridden a rocket
all the way to Mars.
B I’T nobody was yelling. Espwially
Captain Wilder and Spender himself,
llie captain gave a quiet order. One of the
men ran into the ship and brotight fonh tins
of food which were ojieijed and dished out
without mucli noi.se. The men were begin-
ning to talk now. The captain sat down and
recounled the trip to them. They already
knew it all. but it was good to hear about it.
as something over and done and safely
finished. They would not talk alx)ut tlw
return trip, ^meone brought that up. but
they told him to- keep quiet. The spoons
moved in the double moonlight ; the food
tasted g<wvt and the wine was even better.
Spcitficr flit! not uke his eyes off them. He
left his fi’ixl ">i die plate under his hands.
He felt the land getting colder. The star*
d rew closer, very clear
When anj'body talked too loudly, the
captain would reply in a low voice that made
them talk quietly from imitation.
The air smelled clean and new. Spender aat
for a long time just enjoying the way it was
nvade. It had a lot of things in it be couldn't
identify; fliiwers, chemistries, dusts, winds.
"Then, there wa.s the time in New York
when I got hold of that blonde, what was her
name- Minnie!’’ cried Biggs. “That was it I”
Spender sat there, tightening in. His hand
began to tremble. His eyes moved liehind
the thin, sparse lids. His mouth was shut.
“And fiiimie said to me . . .” cried Bigg*.
The men li.sten«d and roared.
“So I smacked her one,” shouted Biggs,
with a bottle jn his hand.
Spender put down his food tray. He
listened to the wind over his ears, cool and
whispering. Tie looked at the cool ice of the
Martian huildings over there on the empty
sea land.*,
"Let me tell you. what a woman, what s
woman’" Riggs emptied his bottle into hi*
open mouth. "Of til the women I ever
knew I"
The smell of Biggs' sweating body was on
the air. Spender let the fire die. "Hey. kick
Iwr up there, Spender." said Biggs, looking
at him for a m<unent. then back to his bottle.
“Well, one niglit, me and Giiinie. . . ."
“This." inurnmrcd Spender to hi* empty
hands in front of him. "is the first night on
Mar*.’’
"What^” said Bigg«, pausing.
"Nothing." said Spender.
"As I was saying — " Biggs turned to the
other men. They laughed.
A man named Schoenke got out his ac-
cordion. He began to do a kicking dance.
The dust sprang up under him.
"Ahoo— Tin alive !" he shouted.
"Yay!" n.iared the men. Their eyes
brightened. They threw down their empty
plates, Two or three of them lined up and
kicked like chorus maidens, ioking coarsely.
The others, capjiing hand®, cried for some-
thing to happen. Cheroke nulled off his shirt
and his ttndersliirt and showed hi* twiked
chest, sweating, as he whirled around. The
moonlight shone on his crew-cut hair and hts
voitng clean shaven cheeks glinted with light.
In the sea bottom, the wind stirred along
faint piece* of*" rapor. and from the mountains,
great stone Titogcs looked uoon the moon-
KHD THE MOON
light &nd Um rocket and the small Are.
Spender closed his hands into hats.
Tne noise got a little louder and a little
louder More of the men got up and the
aecordion squeezed dry of its miuk.
somebody eucked on a mouth-ot^an.
. “A perverted pastime 1” observed Biggs
I with a slap oo his back. Somebody blew on a
tissue-papered comb. Twenty more bottles
were brought out, opened, drunk.
Biggs stanered about, wagging his arms
to direct the dancing men.
"Conic on, sir!’’ cried Cheroke to the
captain, jumping around, one foot in the air,
walling a song. The captain shook his head.
"Come on, air!" call^ several others.
The captain had to Join the dance. He
didn't do a very good one. His face was
solemn. Spender watched, thinking, vou
poor man, oh, you poor man what a night
this is! A good man among foola. They
don’t know what they're doing. They should
have been prepared for this. They should
have hatl an orientation program before they
I came to Mars to tell them how to look and
I how to walk around and be good for a few
I days.
! ‘'That does it.*' The captain begged off
! and sat down, saying he was exhausted.
Spender looked at the captain’s chest. It
wasn’t moving up and down very fast. His
fare wasn't sweaty either.
CCORDTON. harmonica, wine, shout,
dance, wail, roundabout, clash of pan,
I break of bottle, laughter, giggle, sump-
I ing — all of it. They had quite a ttma.
I Biggs weaved to the rim of the canal. He
, earriw six bottles in Ws arms and he dropped
one of them, empty, down into the blue canal
waters It made an emptv hollow drownii^
I sound as it sank.
"I christen thee. I christen thee, I christen
thee — ” said Biggs, thickiv. unable to sav it.
"I christen thee Biggs Canal. Biggs, Riggs
Canal'" And he dropped two more bottles.
Spender was on his feel and over the fire
and alongside of Diggs before anybody could
move. He hit Biggs onec In the teeth, and
once in the ear and then pushed him 90 Biggs
toppled and fell down into the canal water.
Spender did It all without so much as a word.
After the splash he Just stood there, waiting
for Biggs to climb back up onto the rim
stones. By that time, the men were holding
I Spender.
"Hey. hev — what’s wrongf they asked.
BE STILL AS BRIGHT 81
"W'hat's eating you. Spender ? Hey ?” Spend-
er stared brightly into the canal waters where
Bins finundered like a large fat beetle.
The wind came in off the dead soa.
Biggs climbed «m and stood dripping.
"Who kicked me off?" he said. He saw the
men holding Spender. "Weli,” he said, and
started forwaro.
"That's enough." said Captain Wilder.
The men broke and left Spender standing
there. Bins did not continue his movement.
He stopn^ and looked at the captain.
"Sir,’’ he said.
"All right, Biggs, go climb into tome dry
clothes.’’ ordered the captain. Biggs went
into the ship.
"Here nowl” Captain Wilder gestured at
Spender. The captain waved his hand at the
men. “Carry on with your part>’ ! You come
with me. Spender."
The men took up the party. Captain
Wilder walked off with Spender after him,
and stopped quite some distance from the
other men.
"I suppose you can Just explain what hap-
pened now." Wilder said.
Spender looked at the canal. "I don’t
know. I was ashamed."
"Of what?"
“Of Biggs and us and the noise. Pah.“
what a spectacle!"
"They’ve got to have their fun, it's been a
long trip." ,
''SVherc's their respect, sir? Where's their
sense of the right thing?”
"You’re tir^, too. and you have a different
way of looking at things, Spender. That’ll he
a fiftv-dollar fine for j-mi."
"Yes, sir. It was just the idea of Them
watching us make vile fool* of ourselves."
“Them. Spender?"
“The Martian.*, dead or not."
"Most certainly dead." said the captain.
"Bi't do you think Thev know we're here?”
“Doesn't an old thing always know when
a new thing comes?” said Spender.
"I suppose so. You sound as if vou helieve
in ghosts and spirits."
“I believe in the things that were done,
sir, and there are evidences of many tliihga
done on Mar.*. There are streets and there
are houses and there are books. I imagine,
and big canals and clocks and places for
stabling, if not horses, well then some
domestic animal, perhaps with twelve lega,
who knows. Evetywhere I look I sec things
that were used. They were touched and
THBXLLCrQ WONDER STORIES
82
h&ad]*<I for centuries.
“Ask me H I believe in the writ of the
things lu the}' were used, and rli lav vei.
They’re all here. All the titlngt v^ich Kad
uses. AD the mountains which had names.
And well never be able to use them wHthovt
feeling uncomfortable. And somehow the
mountains will never sound right to us, we’U
give them new names but the okl names arc
there, somewhere, in time, and the mountains
were shaped and seen under ?'■ ■ names.
The names we'll give to the canals and
tuouulainip and cities will fall like so much
water on the back of a ntalltrd. No matter
how we touch ^(ars, well never touch it.
And then we'II gei mad at 't and you know
what we'll do. \\>'ll rip it all up. rip the
akin off and change it to dt ourselves.’’
“We won’t ruin Mars." said the captain.
“It’s too big and too good."
“You think not? We earth men have a
talent for ruining bi|, beautiful things. The
only reason we didn t set up hot dog stands
in the midst of the Ternple of Kamttk in
Egyj>t Is because it was out of the way, aud
ser^ rib large commercial purpose. And
Egypt is a small part of Eaiih. But here,
this whole thing is ancient and different, and
we have to set down somewhere and start
fouling it tip. r haven’t any faith in humans.
We'll call the canal the Rockefeller Canal and
we'll call the mountain King George ^^oun-
tain and we'll call the sea the Dupont Sea
and we’ll call the cities Roosevelt and Lin-
coln and Coolidge City and it won't ever be
right, when there arc the froptr names to
these place*.”
"That’fl be your job, as archaeolofrist, to
find out the names and we'll use them.”’
“A few men like myself, against all the
commercial interests?” Spender looked at
the iron mCHiutains. "They know we’re here
tonight, and I imagine they liatp ns liecause
we've come to pry and min things.”
The captain shook his head. “There’s no
hatred here.” He listened to the wind. "From
the look of their cities, thev were a graceful,
aesthetic, beautiful and philos^iphical people.
"They accepted what came to them. They
acceded to racial denth, that much we know,
and without a last-moment war of frustration
to tumble clown their cities. Everyone we've
seen so far has been flawlessly intact. They
probably don't mind us being here, anv more
than they’d mind children playing on the
lawn, knowing and understanding children
for what they are. And. anyway, perhaps all
this wdlt change us for the better.
“Did you notice the peculiar quiet of the
men, Spender, until Higgs forced them to get
happy? Th«y looked pretty humble and
frightened. Looking at all this we know
we’re nut su hot, we're young kid* in rom-
pers, shouting with our play-rockets and our
stums, loud and alive. But, one day. Earth
will be this way. too. This will sob^ us up.
It’s an object lesson in civilitationi. 'We’ll
learn fronv-Mars. Now, suck in your chin and
let's go back and play happy. That flfty-
doltar fine stiU goes.”
CHAPTER II
Red Rtckomng
T he party was not going too well. The
wind kept coming m off the dead sea.
It moved around the men and it moved
around the captain and Jeff Spender a* they
returned to the group. 'The wind pulled at
the dust and the shining rocket and pulled at
the accordion and the dust got into the
vamped harmonica. The dust got In their
eyes and the wind made a high singing sound
in the air. As suddenly as it had come the
wind died.
Rut the party had died, too.
The men stood upright against the dark
cold sky, The}' had their pale hands to their
eyes, some of them coughed.
Spwder suid the captain sat down.
"Come on. gents, come on I” Biggs
bounded from the ship, in a fresh uniform,
not looking at Spender even once. “Gime
on, you gu.va!" His voice wa.s like someone
in an empty* auditorium, It was alone. It
sounded !n<e bad oratory.
Nobody diil anything hut stand there.
“Come 'jii. NSTutie. your hannunka!”
The wind passed on away along the length
of the canal, stirring the eool deep clear
waters like so much disrilled wine lying in
the stone channel.
“Oh,” said Whitie, and blew a harmonica
chord. It sounded ftmny and alone and
wrong, Whitie knocked the moisture from it
and put it in his pocket.
The party was over.
“Come on.” insistcsl Biggs. “What kind
of a party ir this?"
Somebody hugged the accordion. It gave
.... AND TBB MOON BE 0TILL AS BRIGHT
a sound likt a dying aiiinia]. That was alL
Biggs put his hands down. “W«'rc tired,”
said Whitie.
"Well, me and my bottle will go off and
have our own party, by gosh!” Biggs hdd
a bottle to his chest. He walked to the ship
and squatted against it, taking a drink from
the fla.sk.
Jeff Spender watched him. Spender did not
move for a long time. Then his fingers
I crawled up along his trembling leg to his
bolstered pistol very quietly and stroked and
tapped the leather sheath for a moment.
"All of those who want to can come into
the city with me. Come along.” said the
captain. "We’ll need a guard p<^ed here at
the rocket, of course, and we 'll go armed, in
case anything untoward happens.”
The men counted off. Fourteen of them
wanted to go along, including Biggs, who
lairglied when he included himself and wared
his bottle, Six others stayed behind.
The party moved out into the night,
throtigli the moonlight, saving rsot a word.
Captain Wilder and Jeff Spender in the lead.
Biggs bringing up the rear. Mtnnbling and
swearing,
"Here we go!" Biggs shouted.
The>’ stood on the outer rim of the dream-
ing dead city in the light of the racing twin
moons, Their shadows, under them, were
double shadows. They did not breathe, or it
seemed they did not. perhaps, for a long
time. They were waiting (or something to
stir in the dead citv. some gray form to rise,
some ancient. ance<rtral shape to come gallop-
ing across the vacant sea bottom on an
ancient, armored steed of impossible lineage,
of iinbelies'able derivation.
Spender filled the streets with his eyes and
his mind. People moved like blue vapor lights
on the cobbled avenues, and there were faint
murmur« of sound, and odd animals scurry-
ing acTOM the gray-red sands. Each window
was given a person who leaned from it and
waved slowly, as if under a timeless water, at
some moving form in the fathoms of space
below the moonsilvered towers. Music was
played on scrnie inner ear, and Spender Im-
agined the shape of such instruments to
evoke such music. The land was haunted.
"Hey!” shouted Biggs, standing tall, his
hands around his open mouth. He pointed
his face at the city. "Hey. you people in
there, you !”
“Biggs!" said the captain.
Biggs quieted.
SI
T hey walked forward on a tiled avenue.
They were all whispering now, for it was
like entering a vast open library or a mau-
soleum in which the wind lived and over
which the stars shone. The captain talked.
He wondered where the people had gone,
and what they had been, and who their kings
were and how they died ? And he wonderM,
quietly aloud, how they had built this city to
last the ages through, and had they ever coma
to Earth.' Were they ancestors of Earth
men. ten thousand years removed ? And had
they loved and hated similar loves and similar
hates, and done .similar silly things when silly
things were done?
NcAody moved. The moons held and froie
them, the wind beat slowly around them, the
sand shifted in little tremors over their feet.
"I>wd Byron," said Jeff Spender.
"Lord who?” The captain turned and re-
garded the man.
"Lord Byron, a Nineteenth Century poet.
He wrote a poem a tong time ago that fits
this city and Viw the Martians may feel, if
there’.s anything left of them to feel. Tt might
have been written by the last Martian poet.”
The men stood motionless, their shadows
under them.
The captain said. "How does it go. Spend-
er?”
"MTiat. sir?”
"The poem, how does it go?”
Spender shifted, pul out hi* hands to re-
member. squinted silently a moment; then,
remembering, his slow quiet voice repeated
the words and the men listened to everything
he said ;
So we’ll no more s-rnvtBK
So late mw the nii^hi.
Thouffh the heart be sliti at Inving,
And the loooo be ttill u bri*ht.
“nie city vjA% grav and high and motion*
lew. The men’s fare* were turned in the
light.
For the sword v-itweart its thealK
And tbe scul wears out the breast
And the bean rmnt pause to bresthe,
And lore Itself must rest
Tboojrb the nifcbt wa* made for tovinf.
And the day returtii too soon.
Yet well no no more a-rovii^
Br the lieht of the moon.
Without a word, the Earth men stood in
the center of the city. It wai a dear night.
There was not a sound, except the wind. At
their feet lay a tile court, worked into the
shape of ancient animals and peoples. They
stood looking down upon it.
THRUXtNQ WONI>EB STORIES
M
Biggs nude a noise in his throat. His
«yfs were dull. He groped out thick sense-
l»s lingers, shufHed forward upon the dies,
there to hesitate. His hands went up to his
neck, he choked several times, shut his eyes,
bent, and a thick rush of fluid filled his
mouth, came out. fell to and lay upon the
tiles, covering the patterns, Biggs repeated
this twice and a sharp stench tuT^ the quiet
air.
Nobody moved to help Biggs. He went on
being sick.
Spender stared for a moment, then turned
and walked oil into the avenues of the dty,
lost to their sight, alone in the moonlight.
Never once did he pause to look hack at the
gathered men there.
They turned in at four in the morning.
They lay down upon blankets with pillows
under their heads and shut their eyes and
breathed the quiet air. Captain Wilder sat
feeding the fire little sticks. His hands hung
down between his muscnlar legs. He watched
the fire steadily.
McCkive opened his eyes for a moment.
“Are you ale^in^. sir?"
"Never you mind." The captain smiled
faintly, ‘‘rra waiting for Spender.”
"Isn’t he back, sir?”
Captain Wilder shook hit head.
McClure thought it over a moment. "You
know. sir. I don't think hell ever com bade.
I don't know how I know it. but that’s th*
way I feel about him, sir. he’ll never com
back.”
McOure rollod over into steep. The lira
crackled and died out.
Spender did not return in the following
week, The captain sent out a party for him.
but they came back saying they didn’t know
where he could have gone. He would be
back when he got good and ready. He was a
sorehead, they said. To the de\d! with him.
The captain said nothing, but wrote it
down in the log. . . .
WAS a morning tlat might have been
a Monday or a Tue.sday or any day on
Mars. Biggs was sitting at the edge of the
canal, now and again lifting his bare feet up
and peering at them while he spread the toes
with hts fingers. Then he hung the feet back
down into the cool water and sat there,
A man came walking along the rim of the
canal. The man threw a shadow down upon
Biggs and Biggs looked up.
"Well, I'll be blistered I” said Biggs.
"I’m the last Martian,” said the man, tak-
ing out a gun.
"‘What did you say?" asked Biggs.
"I’m going to kill you."
"Cut it. What kind of a joke is that.
Spender?”
"Stand up and take it in the stomach.”
"For Pete's sake, put that gun away.”
Spender pulled die trigger only once.
Biggs sat on the edge of the canal for a mo-
ment before he leaned forward and fell into
the water. The body drifted with slow uncon-
cern under the slow tides of the canal. It
went away and down, making a hollow bub-
bling sound that ceased after a moment.
•Spender shoved his gim into its holster
and walked away quietly. The sun was sign-
ing down upon Mars. He felt it burn his
hands and slide over the sides of his tight
face. H« did not run, he walked as if nothing
was new except the daylight. It was good to
take it easy. He walked down to the rocket
and some of the men were having a freshly
cooked breakfast under a shelter buth by
Cookie.
"Here comes the Lonely Oua.” somebody
said.
"Hello, Spender ! Long time no see.”
The four men at the table regarded the
silent man who stood looking back at them.
"You and them shoddy ruins.” said
Cookie, stirring a black substance in a crock.
"You're tike a dog in a bnneyard.”
“Maybe.” Spender sat down and said,
"I've been finding out things. What would
you say if t said f’d found a Martian prowl-
ingarotmd ?”
11m four men laid down their forks.
"Did you? Where?”
"I’m no? saying I did. I just said 'sup-
posing.’ "
The four men relaxed. Cookie went on
stirring the stuff fa the crock. "Well, sup-
posing," said Cberoke. at the table, waiting.
"How wmild you feel if you were a Mar-
tian and people came li^our land and started
tearing it up ?” asked Spender.
"I know exactly how T'd feel," said
Cheroke. "I've got some Cherokee blood in
me. My grandfather told me a lot of things
about the Oklahoma Territory. If there’s a
Martian around. I’m all for him.”
"What about you other men?” asked
Spender, carefully.
Nobody said anything, but the silence they
maintain^ was talk enough. Catch as catch
can, finder’s keepers, if tlie other fellow turns
81
.... AND THE MOON
his cheek slap it hard. Et cetera.
■‘Wdl,” said Spender. ‘Tvc found a
Martian,”
“Where?” The men squinted at him.
"Up in the ruins. I didn’t think I'd find
him. I didn't intend to find him. I don’t
know what he wa.s doing there I’ve been
living in a little valley town for about a week,
learning how to read the ancient books and
looking at their old art form*. And one day
I saw this Martian. He stood there for a
moment and then be was gone. He didn't
corse back for another day. And I sat around,
learning how to read the old writing aitd the
Martian came back, each time a little nearer,
until, on the day I learned how to read the
old writing — it’s amazingly simple langtiage
to learn, and there are tile picturegraphs to
help you, and old song-spools you can listen
to^
"On that day w'hen I learned the language,
the Martian appeared before me. He said to
me, ‘Give me your boots,’ and I gave him my
boots and he said, 'Give me your ehirt and
all the rest of your apparel.' and I gave him
all of that, and then he looked at me and he
said, ‘Give me your gun,' and 1 gave him my
gun. Then he said. ‘Now come along, and
watch what happens’. And the Manian
walked down into camp and he's here now."
The men locjked around and then looked at
each other.
"I don't sec any Martian,” said Cheroke.
"I’m sorry.” ^
Spender took out his gun, The first bullet
got the man on the left, the second and third
bullets got the men on the right and the
renter of the table. Cnnlcie turned In horror
from the fire to receive the fourth bullet- He
fell back into the fire and lay there while his
clothes caught the flames. It was like stamp-
ing vour foot lightly, for all the sound it
made.
The rocket lay in the sun. Tliree men sat
at breakfast, their hands on the table, not
moving, their food getting cold in front of
them. Qteroke. untouched, sat alone, staring
in numb disbelief at Spender.
"You can conic with me,” said Spender to
Cheroke.
Cheroke said nothing, His lips moved but
nothing came out. His eyes widened into a
.kind nf dull blindness.
"You can be with me on this." Spender
waited.
Finally Cheroke was able to speak. "You
killed them,’’ he said, daring to lock at the
BE STILL AS BRIGHT
men around him.
"They deserved it.”
"You killed them. Why? You’re crazy.”
"Maybe I am. But you can come with me.”
"Come with ycu, for what?” cried
Cheroke, the color out of his face, his eyes
watering. "Go on, get out.”
"You won't come with me?”
“No, no. you idiot!”
Spender's face hardened. "And of all of
them. I thought you would understand.”
“Go on, get out.” Cheroke reached for hig
gun.
Spender pressed the trigger of his own gun
once more.
Qieroke stopped moving.
Now Spender swayed. He put his hand
to his sweating face. He glanced at the rocket
and suddenly began to shake all over. He al-
most fell down, the physical reaction was so
overwhdmitig. His face held an expression
of one awakening from hypnosis, from a
dream. He sat down for a moment and told
the shaking to go away.
"Stop it. stop it," he commanded of hk
body. Every fibre of him was quivering and
shaking. "Stop it!” He crushed his body
with his mind until all the shaking was
squeezed out of it. His hands lay calmly now
ufKtii hifc silent knee*,
He arose and strapped a portable storage
locker on his back with quiet efficiency. His
hand began to tremble again, just for a
breath of an instant but he said “No!’' very
firmly and the trembling passed. Then, walk-
ing stiffly, he moved nut between the hot red
hills of the land, alone.
CHAPTER III
Rtign Of Death
A S THE DAY advanced, it grew nice
-/■A and warm. The sun burned further
along the sky. An hour later, the captain
climbed down out of the ship to get some
ham and eggs. He was just saying hello to
the four men fitting there when he stopped
and noticed a faint smell of powder fumes on
the air. He saw the cook lying on the ground,
with the camp fire under him. The four men
at the table sat before food that was cold.
From the ship, a moment later. “Whitie”
and two other men climbed down. The
TimiLUNG '(rONDEIt STORIES
Be
captain stood in their way, fasdnatod by the
aiient men before him and the way they sat so
quietly at their breakfast. They moved past
him and stopped.
The captain's face was pale. “Get the men,
all of them."
"Yes. sir.” Whitie hurried off down the
canaJ rim.
The dptain walked up and touched
Cheroke. Cheroke twisted quietly and (ell
from his chair. Sunlight buru^ in his bristled
short liair and on his high cheekbones.
The men were called in. They looked at
each other’s faces and counted each other,
one, two, three, four, and said each other's
names.
“Who's missing?"
■'Just a moment.”
“It’s still Spender, sir.”
‘‘Spender!’’
The raptaio saw the hills rising in the day*
light. The sun showed his teeth m a grimace
as he Blared at the hills. “Blast him," lie said,
in tired tones. “Why didn't he come and
talk to ma?”
"He should've come and talked to me,”
cried Whitie, his eyes blazing. “I'd shot his
bloody brains out, that's what Td have done,
and I'll do it now, by jinks! Ill spill them
all over the place!"
Captain Wilder nodded at two of the men.
"Get shovels. There’ll be a service, and then
well go up in the hills and find Spender."
"Well beat !us brains out," said Whitie.
It was hot digging llie graves. A warm
wind came from over the %-acant sea and
blew the dust up into their faces as the
captain turned the Bible pages and said the
few necessary words. They were all sweat-
ing around the opened earth. When the
captain dosed the book, somebody began
shoveling slow streams of sand down upon
the wrapped figures.
They wralked back to the rocket, clicked the
mechanisms of their rifles, put thick packets
of grenades on their l>acks and checked the
free play of pistols in their holsters. They
were each assigned to a certain part of the
hills. The captain directed them without
raising his voice or moving hia hands from
his belt at the waist. It was like a little
sermon on fishing.
"Let’s go." he said. . . .
Spender saw the thin dust rising in several
ploces in the valley and he knew the pursuit
was organised and ready. He put down the
thin aluininuHi book that he had been reading
as he perched easily on a flat boulder. Th«
pages were tissue-thin pure aluminum,
stamped in black and gold. It was a book of
philosophy at least 10,000 years old he had
found to one of the buildings of a Martian
valley town. He was reluctant to lay it aside.
For a long time he had thought, Wliat's
the use? I’ll sit here reading until they come
along and shoot me.
The first reaction to his killing the five
men at breakfast Itad caused a period of
stunned blankness, then sickness, and now, a
strange peace. But the peace was passing too,
for he saw the dttst going up from the trails
of the hunting men and experienced the re-
turn of resentment.
He took a drink of cool water from the
hip canteen. Then he stood up, stretched,
yawned, end listened to the peaceful wonder
of the valley around him. How very fine if
he and a few others that he knew on Earth
could be here, live out their lives here, with-
out a sound or a worry.
He carried the book with him in one hand,
the pistol ready in the other hand. There was
a little swift running stream filled with white
pebbles and rocks where he undressed and
waded in for a brief washing. He took all the
time he wanted before dressing and picking
up the again.
The firing began about three in the after-
noon. By then, Spender was high in the hills.
They passed through three small Martian
towns. Really, it looked to all of them, as if
the Martians wer«« tribal or family lot, on«
or another of the families from one town
would find a green spot >n the hills and a
villa would be built with a pool and a library
and some sort of stage and a good many
balustrades and tiled terraces.
Spender spent ludf an hour in one, balhing
once more In a pool filled by the seasonal
rains, waiting for the men to catch up with
him. The shots rang out just as he was leav-
ing the little family town, and some tile chip-
ped up about twenty feet behind him. He
broke into a trot, got behind a series of little
hills, turned, and, with the first shot, dropped
one of the men dead in his tracks.
T hey wouW form a net. a circle. Spend-
er knew that. They would go around
and dose in and they would get him. Tt was
a strange thing that the grenades were not
used. Captain Wilder could easily order the
grena<!es tossed.
But I'm much too nice to be blown to bits.
.... AND THK MOON
thought Spender, that’s what the captain
thinks. He wants me with onljr one hole in
me. Now isn't that strange? The captain
warts my death to be clean. Nothing messy.
Because why? Because he understands me
and, because he understands, therefore is
willing to risk his good men to give me a
clean shot in the head ?
Seven, eight, nine shots broke out in »
rattle. The rocks around him flew up at the
explosions. Spender fired steadily, some-
times while looking at the aluminum boc4(
he carri^ in his hand.
The nptain ran in the hot sunlight, with a
rifle in his hand. Spender followed him in
the sight.t of his pistol, but did not fire. In-
stead he shifted over and blew the top off a
lock where Whitie lay, and heard an angry
shout. Suddenly the captain stood up and
he had a white iiandkerchicf in his hands. He
said something to the men and came walking
up the tnouniain after putting aside his
rifle. Spender lay there, then arose to his feet,
his pistol ready.
The captain came up and sat down on a
wann boulder, not looking at Spender for a
moment
Then he reached into his pocket, Spender
waved his pistoi a little.
The captain said, "Cigarette?”
"Thanks.” Spender took one.
"Light?"
"Got my own."
They took one or two puffs and let it out
"Warm,” said the captain.
"It is.”
"Are yon comfortable up here?”
"Fnough.’'
"How long do you think yon can hold
out?"
"About twelve nwn’s worth."
"Why didn’t von kill all of us this morning
when you had the chance. You could have,
yon know."
"f know 1 got sick. When you waul to do
a thing badly enough you lie to yrmrwlf.
You say the other is all wrong. Well, soon
after I started killing people, T realised they
were just fools and I shouldn't be killing
them. But it was too late. I couldn’t go on
with it then, so I came up here so I could lie
to myself some more and get angry, to build
it all up."
"Is It huilt up?"
"Not vrry high. Enough.”
The captain puffed on a curette. “Wffiy
did you do it?”
BE STILL AS BRIGHT 87
Spender quietly laid his pistol at hii feet.
"Because I’ve seen that what these Martians
had was just ss good as anything we'll ever
hope to have. They stopped where we should
have stopped a hundred years ago. I’ve
walked in their cities and I know these
people and I'd be glad to call them my
ancestors."
"They have a beautiful city there,” The
captain nodded at one of several places.
"It’s nut that alone. Yes. they have a good
city here. They knew how to blend art into
their living. It’s always been a thing s(>art
■ for Americans. Art vras something you kept
in the crazy son’s room upstairs. Art was
something you took in Sunday doses, mixed
with some religion, maybe. Well, these
Martians have art and religion and every-
thing.”
“You think they knew wliat it was all
about, do ycjy.^'
"For my money."
"And for that reason, you started shontiiig
people."
"Wlien I was a kid inv folks took me on a
visit to Mexico City. I'll always remember
the way my father acted — loud and liig. And
my mother didn't like the people because
they were dark and didn't wash right, And
my si.ster wotldn’t talk to some of them. I
was the only one really liked it. And I can
see my mother and mv father coming to
Mars and doing the same. ‘
"Anytiiing that’s strange is no good to the
average American, If it doesn’t have ^ic^o
plumbing. It's nonsense. The thought of thatl
Oh God. the thought of that! And then —
the war. You heard the Congressional
speeches before we left. If things work out
they hope to establish three atomic research
and atom bomb depots on Mars. And that
means Mara is doomed, ail of this wonderful
stuff gone. How wnuW you feel if a Martian
came and vomited atale liquor all over the
White House floor*"
^^GIETLY the captain sat blinking in (he
smoke.
"Ami then the other power interests com-
ing in.” Mid .Spender. "The mineral men
and the travel men. Do you remember what
happened to Mexico when Cortes and hit
very fine good friends arrived ’from Sjiatn?
A whole dviluation <le«tro^ed by ^eedy,
righteous bigots. History will never forgive
CortM."
"You haven't been acting ethically your-
88 tHSIlXINO WOKDBt 8TOBIES
self, toda7,’' observed the captain.
"Wbat could I do? Argue with you? It’s
limply me against the whole crooked grind-
ing greedy setup on earth. They'll be
flopping their filthy atom bombs up here,
fighting for bases to have wars. Isn’t it
eoough they’re ruining one planet, without
ruining another; do they have to foul some-
one else’s manger? The simple-minded
wind-bags. When I got up here, I fek I was
not only free of tlieir so called culture, I felt
I was free of their ethics and their customs.
I'm out of their frame of reference. I thought.
All I have to do is kill you all off. and live
my own life."
“But it didn’t work out." said Captain
Wilder.
“No, after the fifth killing at breakfast. I
discovered I wasn't all new, Martian, after
all. I couldn't throw away even.'thing I had
learned on earth so easily. But now I’m all
right. Ill kill all of you off. That'll delay the
next trip in a rocket for a good five years.
'There'.s no other rocket in existence today,
save this one^ The people on Earth will wait
a year, two years, and then when they hear
nothing from us. they’ll he very afraid to
build a new rocket. They'll take twice as
long, and make a hundred extra experimental
models to insure themselves against another
failure."
"You’re correct.”
"A good report from you, on the other
hand, when you returned, would hasten the
whole invasion of Mars. If I’m lucky. IH
live to be sixty years old. Every expedition
that lands on Mars will be met by me. There
won’t be more than one ship at a time coming
up, one every year or so. and never more
than twenty men. After I’ve made friends
with thnn and explained that our rocket blew
up one day — I intend tn blow it up after I fin-
ish my job, today — I'll kill them off, every
one of them. Mars will be untouched for the
next half century. After awhile, perhaps the
people of Earth will give up trying. Re-
member how th^- grew leery of the idea of
building Zeppelins that were always going
down in flames?’’
"You’ve got it all planned," said the
captain.
“I have."
"And yet you're outnumbered and in about
an hour well have you surrounded and vou’ll
be dead.”
‘Tve found some underground passages
and a place to live that you’ll never nnd. I’ll
withdraw there and live for a few weeks.
Until you're off guard. Then I’ll come out
and pick you off, one by one."
"Will you have something to drink?" Thr
captain threw down bis cigarette.
‘T don’t mind."
The captain poured two drinks from a hip
flask.
"If you don't mind, sir. I'll take your cup,
you take mine, that way we won't have any-
one falling down poisoned."
The captain looked him in the face. “You
don’t think I’d pull a thing like that.”
Spender said. “No. No. 1 guess you
wouldn't Here."
They drank the whisky slowly.
“T^ me about your civilization here,"
suggested the captain, casually examining his
man.
“They knew how tn live with nature and
get a long with nature. They didn’t try too
hard to be all men and no animal. That’s the
mistake we made when Darwin showed up.
We embraced him, and Huxley and Freud,
all smiles. And then we discovered that Dar-
win and our religions didn’t mix. Or at least
we didn't think they did. We were fools. We
tried to budge Darwin and Huxt^ and
Freud, and they wouldn't move very well.
So, like fools, we tried knocking down re-
ligion.
“We succeeded pretty well in many in-
stances. Wc lost our faith and went around
wondering what life was for. If art was no
more than a frustrated outflinging of desire,
if religion no more than self-delusion,
whit good was life? Faith had always given
us answers to all things- But it all went down
the drain with Freud arxl Darwin. We were
and still are a lost people."
WMTILDER was naring steadily at
Spender who«e eyes had taken on a
dreamy expression.
"And these Martians are a found people?"
asked the captain.
"Yes. "They knew how to combine science
and religion so the two worked side by side,
neither denying the other, one enriching the
other."
"That sounds ideal."
“It was. And do you know how the Mar-
tians did this? I'd like to show you.”
“The men are waiting down on the hill
for me."
“We’ll be gone half an hour. Tell them
that, sir.”
.... AKi> We Kiooiif be swll as bright
89
The captain hesitated, then rose and called
an order down the hill.
Spender took him down into a little moun-
tain village built all of cool perfect marhle.
There were great friezes of beautiful animats,
white lintbed cat things, and yellow limbed
sun symbols, and statues of bull-like creatures
and statues of men and women and huge,
fine-featured dogs.
"There’s your answer. Captain."
“I don't sec."
"The Martians discovered the secret of life
in the 'animals. The animal does not question
life. It lives. It’s very reason for living it
life; it enjoy.s and relishes life. You see — the
Statuary, the animal symbols, again and
again.’
"It looks pagan.’’
“On the contrary, those are God symbols,
^mbols of life. Man had become too much
man, and not enough animal on Mars. too.
one ilay. And man realized that, in order to
survive, he would have to forego asking that
one question any longer. Why live? Life was
Its own answer. Life was the propagation of
more life and the living of as good life as
possible. The Marti.nna realized that they
asketl the question 'Why live at all?' at the
height of aome period of war and despair,
when there was no answer. But once the
civilization calmed, quieted, and became
economically .sound, and wars ceased, the
que.stion became senseless in a new way:
I-lfe was now good, and needed no argu-
ments.”
"Tt sounds as if the Martians were quite
"Only when if paid to be naive. They quit
trying too hard to destroy everything, to
humble everything. They blended religion
and art and .science, because, at base, science
is no more than an investigation of a miracle
we can never explain, and art i.s an interpre-
tation of that miracle, Thev never let science
crush the aesthetic and the beautiful. It is all
simpiv a matter of degree. The Earth man
thinks :
" ‘In that picture, color does not exist,
really. A scientist can prove that color ia
only the way the cells are placed in a certain
materia! to reflect light. Therefore color is
not really an actual part of the thing 1 hap-
pen to see.’
"A Martian, far cleverer, would say; ‘This
is a fine picture, it came from the tod and
mind of a man inspired. Its idea and its color
are from life. This thing is good.’ ”
CHAPTER IV
Stone Sorrophagns
C URIOUSLY the captain looked around
at the little quiet cool town, sitting in
the afternoon sun.
"I’d like to live here,” he said.
"You may if you want.”
“You ask me that?”
“Will any of those men under you ever
really understand all this ? They’re profes-
sional cynics, and it's too late for them. Why
do you want to go hack with them'’ So you
can keep up with tlie Joneses ? To buy a gyro
just like Smith has? To listen to music with
your pocketbook instead of your glands?
There^s a little patio down here with a reel
of Martian music in it at least fifty thousand
years old. It still plays. Music you’ll never
hear in your life. You could hear it. There
are books. I've gotten on well in reading
them, already. You could ait and read."
"It all sounds quite wonderful. Spender."
“But you won’t stay?”
"No. Thanks, awfully.”
“And you certainly won’t let me .stay,
without trouble. I'll have to kill you all.”
“You're optimistic.”
“I have something to fight for and live for,
that makes me a better warrior. I've got a
religion now. It’s learning how to smell and
breathe all over. And how tc- lie in the sun
getting a tan, letting the sun get into you.
And how to hear music and how to read a
book. What does your civilization have to
offer?”
The captain, shifted his feet. He shook his
head. 'Tm sorry all this is happening. I'm
sorry about it ail.”
"I am too. I guess I'd better take you
back now so you can start the attack.”
"I guess so.”
“I won’t kill you. captain. When it's all
over, you’ll still be alive.”
"What?”
“Yes. I decided that when I began all
this. Yon would be the one I would leave
alive. I never Intended touching you. 1 don’t
intend to now.”
“Well,” said the captain.
"I won’t kill you. I'll save you out from
the rest,” said Jeff Spmder. "When they’re
all dead, mayl* you'll change your mind.”
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
"No." the captain said, "I won’t change.
There’s too much earth blood in me. I’ll have
to kill you "
"Even when you have a chance to stay
here?’’
"It’s funny, but yes, even with that. 1
don't know why. I’ve never asked mysclf.
Wcll, here we are." They had reached the
place where they had met now. “Will you
come on qmetly with me, Spender? This is
my last offer."
"Thanks, no." Spender put out hia hand.
"And one last thing? If you win, do me a
favor? See what can be done to restrict tear-
ing this planet apart, at least for fifty years,
until the archaeolom.vts have had a decent
time of it, will your”
"Right."
"And one more thing. Tf it’ll help you any,
just think of me as a very crazy fellow who
went berserk one summer day and never was
right again. Idl be a little easier on you,
perhaps. Do that."
"I'll think it over. So long, Spender. Good
luck." ,
“You’re an odd one," said Spender as the
captain walked hack down the trail in the
warm blowing wind.
The captain returned like something lost
tn his dii.sty men. He kept squinting at the
gun and breathing hard
“Is there a drink?" he wondered. He felt
the bottle pnt cool into his hand. “Thanks.”
He drank. He wiped hts mouth.
"All right,” he said, "Take it easy, we
have all afternoon. I <lon't want any more
lost. Yotj'll have to kill him. He won’t come
down. Make it a dean shot if you can. Don’t
mess him. Get it over with." He took an-
otlier cool drink.
“I’ll kick his bloody brains out." said
Whitie.
“No. through the chest,” said the CAptain.
He could see Spender's strong, clearly de-
termined face.
“His bloody brains." said Whitie.
Tlie captain handed him the bottle jerk-
ingly. “You heard what I said, through the
chc.st.”
Whitie talked to hiinseli.
"Now,” said the captain.
T hey spread again, walking and then
running, and then walking on the hot
hillside places where there would be sudden
cool grciloes that smelled of moss, and sud-
den open blasting places that smelled of sun
on stone.
I iiate being clever, thought the captain,
when you don’t really feel clever and don't
want to hf clever. To .sneak around and
make {^ans and feel big about making them.
1 hate this feeling of thinking I'm doing right
when I'm not r«ifly certain I am. Who are
we, anyway? The majority? Is that the
answer. The majoriu is always holy, isn’t
it? It is always right, is it not? .Always,
always; just never wrong (or one little in-
significant, tiny moment, is it? Never ever
wrong in ten million years? He thought:
What is this majority and who are in it?
And what do they think and how did they
get that way and will titey ever change and
how the devil did I get caught in thi< rotten
majority? I don’t feel comfortable. T* it
claustrophobia, fear of crowds, or common
sense? Can one nmn be right, while all the
world thinks they arc right, (..et's not think
about it. Let’s crawl around and act e.xciting
and glamorous and run around and pull the
trigger. There, and there!
'The men ran and ducked and ran and
squatted in shadow and showed their teeth
and tightened their eyes and lifted their guns
and tore holes in the summer air, holes of
sound and heat.
Spender remained where he was. firing
only on occasion.
'*Btoody brain- all overt” Whitie kept
yelling as he ran up the hill.
The captain aimed his gun at Whitie. He
stepped and (>ut it down and stared at it in
horror, "Wlut were you doing?” hr asked
of hit limp h'" t and the gun. His eyes
widened and ' t and he gasped and could
not breathe.
He had almost diot Whitie in the back.
“God help voul” breathed the captain.
"What are y-'n ■'’f*:?* What’s happening!”
He opened >>•« <wes to see Whitie still run-
ning. then falling m lie safe under an outcrop.
"What goes on?” The captain' stared
up. From where be lay he could see it all.
Spender was l>e'"g gathered in by a loose
running net of men. At the top (A the hill,
Iwhind two rocks. Spender lay. grinning with
exhaustion, great islands of sweat under each
arm. The captain saw the rocks. There was
an interval of about four inches giving free
access through to Spender’s chest.
"Hey, vou!" Whitie cried. “.A bullet in
your head. I willl”
The captain waited. Go on, Spender, he
thought. Get out, like you said you would.
AND THE MOON BE STHX AS BBIC.HT
You’re onI> got « few more minutet to
escape. Get out and come back later. Go oo,
S et out. Yon said you would. Go down in
ie tunnels you said you found and He there
and live for months and years, reading your
fine books arcl bathing in your temple pools.
Go on. now, man. before it’s too laie.
Spender did not move from his position
on the hill. "\V}ial .<^ wrong with hinr?” the
captain asked himself.
The captain |»cked up his gun. He watched
the running, hiding men. He krfdted at the
Iciwers of the little clean Martian village, like
sharjilj carved chess iricres Iving in the after*
nooa He saw the rocks arwl the interval be-
tween where .Spenfler's chest showed through
Whitie was running up. screaming in fury.
"No, Whitie,” said the captain. “I can’t
let you do it. Nor the otherv No. none of
you. Only me." He raised the gun and
sighted it.
^Will I be clean after I do this? he thought
I.s it right that it's me who docs it? Yes.
it is. I know what I'm doing for whit reason
and it's right, because I think I’m the right
person. I hope and pray I can live up to this.
He nodded his head in a jerking mere at
Spender.
"Go on.” he called in a Imid whivper which
nobody heard. '‘I’ll give you thirty seconds
more to get away, to escape. Thirty seconds,
hoy !”
The watch ticked on his wrist. The cap-
tain watche<l it tick. The men were running.
Spender did not move. The watch ticked for
a long time, very loudly in his ears, "Go on,
Spender, go on, get away!”
The thirty seconds were up.
The gun was sighted. The captain drew a
deep breath. '‘Spender,” he said, exhaling.
He pulled the trigger.
All that happened was that a faint powder-
ing of rock went up in the sunlight. The
echoes of thr report faded
T he catitain stood up anti called to his
men ‘'He’s dead.”
The other men did not believe him. Their
angles had prevented their seeing that par-
ticular fissure in the rocks. They »w tneir
captain run up the hill, alone, and thought
him citlier very brave or insane
The men came after him a mimite later
They gathered around the body and some-
body said. ‘‘In the chest?”
'The captain looked down. "In the cheat."
he said. He saw how the rocks had changed
•1
color under Spender. "I wonder why be
waited, I wMider why he didn't escape like
he pknoed. I wemder why he stayed on and
got himself killed ?”
"Who knows,” staneone said.
Spender lay there, with his hands clasped,
one around the gun, another around an
aluminum book that shone in the sun.
Waa it because of me ? thought the captain,
Was it because 1 refused to give in, myself?
Did Spender hate the idea of killing nut
Am I any different than these others here?
Is that what did it? Did he figure he could
trust me? What other answer is there?
None. He a<]uatted beside the silent body.
I've got to live up to this, he rhonglit. I
can't let him down. now. If he figured there
was snniething in me that was like himself,
and couldn't kill me because of it. then what
a job ] have ahca<I of me ! That's it. all right.
I’m Spender all over again, but I think before
I shoot, I don’t shoot at all; I don’t kill. I
do things with people. And he couldn't kill
me because I was himself :mder a slightly
different condition.
The captain fch the sunlight on the hack of
his neck. He heard himself saying, "If only
he had come to me and talked it over before
he shot anybody, wc could have worked out
something, somehow.”
"Workctl out what?” said Whitie. "Wliat
could wc have worked out with hit likes?"
There was a sin^ng of heat in the land,
off the rocks and oflf the blue sky. ‘‘I guess
you’re right,” said the captain. ‘‘We conid
never have got tc^tethcr. Spender and myself,
mavhe. But Spender and voa and the others,
no, never. He’s better off now. T-et me have
a drink of water from that canteen.”
It was the captain who suggested the
empty sarcophagus for Spender. They put
him into it with waxes and wine, his hands
folded over his ehest The last they «aw of
him was his peaceful face
They (tood for a moment in the ancient
vault. "I think it woitld be a good itica For
you to think of Spendet from time to time."
«id the eaptain.
They turned and walked from tlie hall and
shut tiK marble door with the name Spender
marked on it and the date.s 1950 — 19?S under
that.
The next aftenuMm, Whitie did some tar-
get practice tn one ol the dead cities, shooting
out the crystal windows and blowing the top
off the fragile towers. The captain cangnt
Whitie and knocked hi» teeth out.
AHEAD OF HIS TIME
a novelet by RAY CUMMINGS
CHAPTER 1
Jiodiimi CkUd
H e w«« about two years old »>>en he
fir« became aware tl»t there was
always a dim glow of light around
him. It was nice, because it shone on the
bright -colored little aninisU, Itirds and fishes
wbxli were on the inside of his white enam-
eled crib. Even in the daytime he was some-
times aware of the glow. In the afternoons,
when the «n3mmer sunlight w*s ' • jnH
bright, and his mother would put him into
hla crib when he wasn’t a bit sleepy, he
would lie staring at the little figures. He
could see them plainly, because the pale
silver glow was on them.
"But it frightens me. Robert. Our little
son — so queer — weird I" Tliat was his
mother's murmured voice, as she stood one
night with his father at the doorway of his
dim bedroom.
"It mustn't fighlen you, Mary. After all,
you're a scientist too,^
Then their voices faded as they went beck
Sanjaa Thome, the radioactive man, seals his own doom
by striving to sore the world irom ultimate disaster!
THRILLma WONDER STORIES
}nto th*ir own room.
Robert Thome closed their bedroom door.
He wu a faoious ext^rimental physicist,
and his wife was his assistant. Both of them
were scientists. Mary Thome knew, of
course, that there were thiiig^s very strange
about this little son, but she was a mother as
well as a scientist, and she lad tried to ignore
it, even while it terrorized her. Thome felt
that the time had come now when they
couldn't ignore it any longer.
■“But Robert, that radiance— the way hit
little body glows in the dark — is like radio-
activity."
“It isn’t that." Thome said.
A queer opalescent glow kept streaming
from the baby's body. When San|an was
asleep, it could hardly be seen, even in dark-
ness. The glow grew stronger when he was
awake. And wlicu he was angry, it sharp-
ened vv’ith a new intensity.
"Not some form of radioactivity?’’ Mary
Thome said. “How do you know?"
Her husband gazed at her solemnly. “I
even tried the new Watling refinement of the
Geiger counter. It showed notliing of radio-
activity.’’
“You've been exjierimenting on him,
Robert?" Mary Thome’s voice was shocked.
“Yes," he agreed. “Why not? We can't
ignore it, Mary. But there’s no reason why
it should frighten us."
“Then if it isn't radioactivity, what is it?"
W HAT ifuleed? Some sort of power.
Something inherent to him. Some-
thing which of course some day science would
be able to explain, but now could only call
an enigma.
And there were other things different
about Sanjan Thome. Ever, now, in infancy,
his high cheekbones, tliin cheeks and point^
diiu were apparenl. At two years old lie
was talking with an abnormal fluency. Every-
thing about him was precocious. The look of
bright, dancing understanding in his eyes.
There wag that time when Robert Thome
had lieJd a bright-colored rattle down into
the crib. Sanjan had only been a year old
tlien. He had reached for the rattle, but not
.with a normal baby’s slow, uncertain fum-
bling. Instead, his eyes had flashed; his tiny
hand hatl darted out and grasped it with in-
credible speed and accuracy.
“All his perceptions are swifter than nor-
mal, Mary," Thome lud explained. “The
messages his brain sends to his muscles are
all speeded up."
A gifted child. Why should they think
of him in terms of something gruesome?
This small human creature was supernormal
— superior. The child was a sudden idvancs-
inent in the slow normal development of the
human race, ft was as though he had jumped
the gap of generations. A human sliead of
his time.
Robert Titome no longer felt justified in
hiding hit secret from his scientific associates.
He brought them in. Gravely they studied
and tested little Sanjan. who stared at them
with his dancing eyes, chattered his grown-
up Ijaby talk and was amused and excited
by it all.
There was a flurry’ of comment now, in
f irint and on the nufio. Newscasters called
ittle Sanjan a freak, and his mother was
appalled and resentful.
^'Robert, you're going to ruin his life.
You're making him a bug on a pin."
"But Mary, science needs to know. We've
something wonderful here."
But public interest died out. The world
soon forgets. Science called Sanjan Thome
a biological abnormality. To Kience he sym-
bolized a new eugenics, a product of the
New Era of Atomic fission, a mutation.
Marv Thome, as a war prisoner in Japan,
laid (*een in Uie culskirts of Hiroshima when
the first atomic bomb was dropped.
Seemingly, the radioactivity to which she
had been expo-.f. had wrought no serious i
effects upon her But the effects were there.
And RoMft T'-'m* had l>een for years one
of the key p;.T.^-isls v.r.rktiw on the devel-
opement <>f .’ ..uic He had been in
the Manhattan Project, from the b^inning,
until that firit ^ was tested in New
Mexico. Then, v.hen the war was over, he
had been in Operation Crossroads, meeting
Mary abuut that time, and uiarrying Iier. He
had always 4ieen careful, with Geiger coun-
ters to mark when ::e should no longer
expose himself Or had he sometimes been
t»X) eager? Too reckless, in his enthusiasm |
for this new and wonderful atomic power?
Something had changed within both the
mother and lather of ?ianjan Thome. Sdenca
coins names for alnsost everything, glibly
speaking of genes end hormones which are
altered ^ radioactivity, so that they produce
something new. What is so myaterious about
tlisi? Even the creation of life still Is a
mystery beyond human ken.
And so Sanjan Thome was a mutant. . . .
AHEAI> OP
Ten years passed, and one day Sinian was
having a quarrel with the little girl next
door.
"I didn't!” said Sanjan.
"Yes you did, tool I had onlv «‘ix pieces,
you had seven!”
*‘l didn't!”
"Yes you did, ^njan Thome You had
seven, and this one is mine!”
But like a darting rapier, Sanjan snatclied
the last chocokte candy from the little girl
and stuffed it into his mouth. She st<^
startled, it had been so quick.
"Why. you horrid little boy! That’s what
you arc!" She 3tam]>ed her foot and burst
into tears.
"And you're just a cry baby," he taunted.
"Besides, I'm not a boy now. I’m a man.
I’m ten.”
\ fANA Grant was the little girl next
door. She was his only playmate. Her
father was the mayor of the town. The
Grant garden adjoined that of the Thornes,
whh only a small hedge between. Long ago.
now, Robert Thome had withdrawn his
strange child from the world. School was
impractical. Sanjan had his own tutors.
Peter Grant, Vena's father, was a close
friend of the Thornes.
The Grants and Thornes had built a high
wall around their two houses and within it
was Sanjan's world. Already, he startled
his tutors with his ability to learn. At ten,
anyone would have called him well educated.
Yet mixed with his maturity, there was nor-
mal childishness, so that he could play with
Vana an<! quarrel with her.
"I hale vou. Sanjan Thome! I hate you.
and I’m afraid of vou!” '
Then as she started to run into her house,
he stood stricken.
"Come back, Vana! Don't cry 1"
"No, I won't come back I You’re a horrid
little boy!"
"I'm sorry I lock your candy, Vana."
Then he was so immensely relieved when
she came back.
That night he said his faihex :
"Dad. I took a piece of omdy from Vana
today. It was hers, but I took it because
she couldn’t stop me. That's human nature,
isn't it? Being greedy. Taking what you can
get, because you’re stronger?”
"Yes." Thome said gravely. "Yes, it is."
"And if people are that way, of course,
iialious are that way too,” ban j an said.
IflS TIME 93
"They do what I did to Vana. Only when it’s
nations, it's called war."
Then out of another silence. Sanjan said.
"And the atomic Ixmih makes a nation pretty
strong. I can see why every nation wants
it.”
The atomic hornh — .^anjao, of course, had
heard of it all his life His toys had 1>een
built around it and the childish bo^s with
which he had learned to read, had told alx>ut
it. Aud as he learned more of what it had
done in titc war that finished just before he
was bom, the fear of it grevr in him.
He said now, "The next war will be pretty
awful, won't h. Dad?"
"We hope there won't be any,” Tltome
said solemnly.
Long since, the nations had given up the
idea that by some international agreement
they couH do away with the atomic bomb.
There was no way that they could enforce
any Internationa) laws, save by starting the
war they were trying to avoid. So they were
making bigger and better bombs, and more
of them.
Each day the world hovered upon the brink
of monster atastrephe.
CHAPTER II
ImPffuUng Catastrophe
• VERY strange little boy was fianjan
.Jm Thome. It was only a lew days after
his evening talk with his father, that a new
aspect of his strangeness was made apparent
to him. Fortunalely, only to him ; and it
frightened him at first so that he kept silent
ab^ it.
Lklle Vana saw iocne of it but. of course,
she didn't understand. Tliat afternoon, when
she and l^jan were playing in their garden,
one of the village boyr climbed the ten-foot
wail. His head and slimildm suddenly ap-
peared. and he shouted to some of his com-
panions.
"I sec "im! Here he is. fellas! .Sanjan
Thome, the freak I”
And the chorus of their voices arose,
"Yah 1 Sanjan the freak ! .Sanjan the freak !"
Then Vana saw Sanjan's thin, pointed
face go pale. HU eyas flashed. The glow
that was always around him grew stronger,
ao that Vana could see it, even heie in the
M THBILLINa WONDEB STORIES
•hadow«d daylight of the garden.
“You stop that!" Sanjan called.
“Yaht Freak! Freak 1"
“I'm notl”
“You are! Freak! Freak!"
“If I could get out there, I’d show youl”
Little Vana «vBt puzzled, because Sanjan,
who had been right here beside her, had
vanished. She thought he had run around
the house, hoping to get out the front gate.
Next she heard Sanjan's voice outside the
wall.
"I’m not a freak 1”
“Ya arel"
"I’m not! You take that backl 111— I’U
make you take it back I ’’
The frightened little girl ran upstairs.
From the window up there she could see
Over the wall and saw the fight. The boy was
older, bigger and stronger than Sanjan. But
Sanjan stood tliere with his opened hands
flicking out. The bigger boy’s t^ows were
thrust aside. Sanjan's movements all were so
uick, it was like a cat fending off a clumsy
og. And occasionally Sanjan would cuff
hit antagonist in the face. There was a ring
of boys around him, but none of them could
touch him. Sanjan taunted them. Suddenly
they grew frightened and turned and ran.
Vana hurried downstairs. Sanjan was
back in the garden when she got there. He
was panting, flushed and laughii^, and there
was something new and strange about the
strange (ace she Iiad come to know so well.
“You got back quick, Sanjan. Is the front
gate open?"
His laugh vanished. He looked a little
frightened. "Why — why I don't know. Why,
I mean — yes. I guess it is."
“1 didn’t know you knew how to fight,
Sanjan,”
“I don't." He grinned. "It just came
naturally, I guess. It wasn't hard to keep
them from hitting me. Everybody moves
ao slowly, you know. It takes them a long
time to think what they want to do, and then
to do It."
Th^ talked of other things. But that eve-
ning. Sanjan was silent. This new thing that
he had discovered in himself was alarming.
Years passed. One night when Sanjan
Thome reached manhood, he leaped from his
bed and stood in the middle of his dark bed-
room, drawn to his full height. Solemnly he
spoke :
“I can’t let it go any longerl I’ve got to
stop this coming war now I If I wait even a
few days, I may be be too late. And I can do
it I have the power!"
There was that strange thing about himsdf
which he had discovered when he was ten
years old and had fought the boys beyond
the garden wdl. Cautiously Sanjan had ex-
periinented. careful always Uiat no one shoaM
witness it Through all these years he had
said nothing to anyone about it. except Vana.
It was their secret And Vana understood ;..i
Vana, wide-eyed and frightened, still was his
ccHnfon and his inspiration as he planned
what he must some day do.
A nd now Sanjan, the man. stood in his
bedroom, telling hknsclf;
“No one in the world could stop this war
now. but me. Since I can do it. surely, I
must try.”
Because war at last was at hand I Abso-
lutely inevitable now; and only this after-
noon Sanjan had learned of it. The thing
stiil was secret from the world public. But
Peter Grant had been to Washington, and
had returned today. At once he and Robert
Thome had conferred and Sanjan bad over-
heard them. Definite ultimatiuns had been
sent A dozen nations were mobilizing be-
cause it was obvious that the ultimatums
would be rejected. Someone would strike,
with atomic botnT =
There was a mirror on the wall of Sanjan's
bedroom. The 5i“w of the faint streaming
opalcaccxKe from his pajamaed body allowed
him his reflectMO — his tall, slim, muscular
figure, with his strange high-eheek-boned
face shaded by f.ii crisp, unruly blond hair.
He would need the proper clothes and a
few simple I'-ri^wIcs for his task. Ho had
toM Vana th:t. as they sat out in the garden
just the other day, and Vana had promiMd
to get him the things at once, from some
other town where she was not known. She
would leave them under the porch of her
house. . Perhaps she had them there now.
It was a comfort, telling Vana his plans.
He had lotd Vana that he had to make the
try. and almost tearfully she had agreed with
hun.
"You can see. Vana. that I must avert this
war, to avert the deaths, the maiming of mil-
lions. I can do that — hold it off for my life-
time.’’
"By then,” Vana said, "conditions may
have changed. Anotlicr war may never start
brewing.”
Sanjan laughed. "You’re a dreamer. Vans.
AJUBAD OF HIS TIME
ST
Nothing can change human nature.”
"This may," she said. "This strange thing
you hope to do."
His smile faded. "Everything about me is
so strange, Vana. It is, isn't it? And yet I
feel perfectly normal.”
"^njan, you are not strange, not to me."
"I love you. Vana. I think I have always
loved you.”
She was grown now — eighteen years old.
She was tail and dark. She smite^l at him.
"I used to be afraid of you. .Sanjan. when
I was a little girl."
He smiled. "But not now?”
"No, not now. Because I know now that
you arc <me man in ail the world that nobody
should be afraid of."
"Some should," he said. "Some will." His
luminous eves flashed. "Believe me. some
will. Vana.*'. . .
In his bedroom now, Sanjan drew a bath-
robe over his pajamas. It was midnight. He
and his father were alone in the house, for
Sanjan’s mother was dead now. His father
perhaps might atill be working in his little
experimental laboratory ilownstairs. ^njan
descended the step.s and entered the work-
room.
"Oh, It’s you, Sanjan. I ihcnight you'd
gone to sleep. "
“No, Dad, I want to talk to yon."
"Why, of coxirse. »on. What i.s it?”
The glow of the fluorescent tubes im the
bi|; littered table laid its eerie sheen on the
ihin figure of San Jan's father. He was a man
of nearly sixty now. with twenty-five years
or more of this atomic fission work behind
him.
"You look very tired. Dad.” Sanjan said.
Thome was haggard. His face was drawn.
He smiled in a tired way.
"Yes." he agreed. "I suppose I am tired.
Just a little thing here is baffling me arwl Tve
got to solve it. So much depends on my
experiments.”
"Yes Dad. 1 can imagine,” Sanjsn said.
There was a bond of love between these two.
"rvc got to put it over," Thtune repeated.
“The laboratories in Washington — the whole
resources of the Bureau of Standards, will
develop my findings. I've got to do it to-
night.''
"I understand.” Sanjan said. "The ur-
gency — Mr. Grant came hack from Wash-
rnglon this afternoon, didn't he?”
"Yes. he did. And — "
"You needn’t tell me. Dad,” Sanjan inter-
rupted. "War is coming. Positively. No
chance of avoiding it now, is there. Dad?”
"No," Thome said. "No chance now. And
so I've got to finish this job here. I've got to
finish it tonight.”
R obert looked weary, almost ineffec-
tual. with the tubclight on him and
the paraphernalia of his science around him.
He was just a tired oid nran trying his best
to cope with tlie maelstrorn of whirling world
events. It made Sanjan, with his youth and
strength and the knowledge of his power,
feel an added urge that he mu.'t end this >ort
of thing in the world.
"Dad. don’t think I'm talking w»kl.” 5an-
Jaii said. "Dad, listen, there’s a chance that
I can stop tliis war,"
"Stop t^e war?"
"Yes. Never let it start. Make it impos-
sible. 1 think 1 can do it. Dad.”
■niome could only stare at his strange
vounjf son. .Sanjan plimeed on.
"Im going to tiy end destroy the war
plants and materials of war all over the
world."
"Sanjanl”
"Or at least, what I can’t destroy, I can
make inefleciive, useless.”
"Sanjan. what do you mean? Such talk ia
preposterous.”
"f can do it, Dad. T really iliiuk so. Alone,
lust me, alimc. Naturally, it would have to
be me There is no one else.”
Puzzled, and with a sudden apprehension
on his thin drawn face. Thome mutely stared.
He had so often heard .Sanjan say strange
things, but nothing like this. Then Ihome
murmured.
“You say you can do a thing tliat's im-
.Sfitijan? How? How could you do
possible
“I’d rather not tell you. Dad," Sanjan said
gently. “At least not now. It would only
worry yog. And I imagine you’ll say I’ll
never be able to accomplish such a task, even
with the power I have.”
“Power? Power, Sanjan?’’
"Yes. Dad. Something about me whkh
I’ve ne\-er told you. In fact. I’ve hidden it
from you.” Sanjan jumped from his seat
and put his hand on his father's shoulder.
“I d«i’t want to tell you now. I don’t want
you to try and dissuade me. I love you very
much. Dad. I respect you. but I’m going to
try this. I may be killed. I don't know. I'm
goir^ awsy.”
TiiRILLING WONDEB SIGBEES
‘‘Aw»y?” Thome echoed. “Wliat do you
mean a»’ay?”
“1 wouldn’t have told you at all, but I
didn’t want to worry you. when you found
I wasn't here. I’m going tonight.”
"Going where?” Thome demanded. "San-
jan. you know that's not practical. We’ve
agreed tliat’s it's best for you to stay here in
iust this house and the grounds. I know it's
teen a horrible handicap, son. but — ”
'Tm going, Dad. But I’ll come back. And
If there are people killed — please, you’ll
understand I’ll avoid that as much as I can."
There was real terror on Thome’s face
now. Had a njadness descended on his
strange son? Some new development in the
supernormal mental and physical makeup
which was Sanjan?”
“People killed?” Thome ejaculated.
“What do you mean by that?”
"I'll avoid it when I can, Dad. Please,
please don’t be so frightened!”
“You — you plan to be a murderer, San-
jan ? Why, I never heard you talk like this
before.”
"If I cotili^ stop the war, that would pre-
vent mass murder on a scale unthinkable.”
Sanjan retorted. "And to do that some
persoiw must die.”
"Sanjan. please,” his father interjected,
"don’t let's talk about it now. Tomorrow, yet.
We'll discuss it tomorrow, son.”
“Tomorrow I’ll be gone. But I agree
there’s no sense of us discussing it.”
"Just go up to your room, and go to
sleep," Thome said soothingly. “You’re all
wrought up, and T don’t blame you. of
course. So am I. Tomorrow w’e’Il — any^vay,
you'll go up to your room now. won’t you?”
"Yes," Sanjan said. "And by tomorrow,
you'll begin to understand. And don't be
frightened. I'll take care of myself — and I
know I’m acting for the best. Good night.
Dad."
He almo.st had said good-bv, but he choked
it hack. He stood in the doorway of the
little laboratory, smiling gently. "Good night,
Dad,” he repeated.
“Good night son.” Thome stammered.
“T'll rail you in the morning.”
Then Sanjan closed the door and was
gone. For a moment Thome sat numbed,
with terror rising in him. Then on impulse
he went out the little side door of the labora-
tory. across the moonlit garden and into
Grant’s house. At least it would comfort
him to unburden himself to his friend.
CHAPTER III
Sanjan's Mission
P F.TFR Grant wa* alone in bis ground
floor study, poring over papers which
he had brought with him from Washington.
He was a squarely built, stolid man of fifty.
Essentially practical,
"Well, hello, Robert," he said. "How are
the experiments coming along? Have a
drink old man. You look all in.”
"It’s about Sanjan." Thome said. And
then he poured it out to his friend — Sanjan,
suddenly mentally deranged? Peter Grant
agreed silently, though he would not say so
to his friend.
"What am I going to do?” Thotne asked
him.
"He says he’s going away,” Grant said.
"I think you ought to put him under good
medical care.
"Lock him up?” Thome emitted a gasp.
“My son — incarcerated? Nol No!"
"Well, not just that. Robert. Don't call
It that. Just — take closer care of him, until
we find out whaf this means?”
"No! Nol I’ll take care of him — I always
haw*"
"He atys hell 1>e gone.” Grant re.sponded
pracUcallv He hesitated, and then he added.
“Yott forget. I'm the mayor here, Robert.
Silly little job, ’ ..t I’m it. just the same. And
there’s a t' ’ ility. By the way Sanjan
talked of ‘ng property and killing
people, if it 1 any meaning at all — welt,
you could .all ‘ •• a menace to society, You
could, couldn't
Grant didn’t press the point. He soothed
his friend, and presently Thome went back
to his laboratory.
But as soon as he was gone, Peter Grant
calletl the police. . .
Sanjan didn’t see his fatlier go into the
Grant home. From the lalwratory, Sanjan
went to his room, stayed there a few minutes,
and then he went to where he found the
things Vana had left for him under the
porch.
Rack in his roewn. he dressed himself —
heavy lumberman's boots, heavy stockings,
thick dark trousers, shirt, and a warm jacket.
'There was a wide leather belt around his
slim waist — a belt on wlxich he could hang a
AHEAD OF HIS TIME 99
"I am not going with you," he said to tha
police inspector.
One of the policemen let out a rough,
small, sharp hatchet, a Itnife. an iron mallet.
Such siinple things, in the great modern
world of weapons. But he could think of
nothing else that really would be useful to
liitii. . . .
He was surveying himself in the mirror,
when suddenly there was a knock on hia door
— -a knock imperative, followed at once by
pounding,
'Tome in." he said "That you. Dad ?”
He had forgotten that the door had a
spring lock, which fastened it when he had
l^ar^ed it dosed. He opened it now. Then
he stepped back, drawn up against the wall
as the men streamed into tlw room, bulky
men in uniform, the police 1
"Sanjanl Sanjan. lad. I didn't do this!
Believe me. I didn't!"
That was his father, standing by the door-
wav, gray-faced, terrified and shaking.
Sanjan's alert gaac flicked to Peter Grant
who moved into view. Grant was tense,
nervous, trying to smile. "I did it," said
Grant. 'T sent for the police, .Sanjan. Just
for your own good, ray boy. You know I’ve
always been >mur friend."
“Af course.” Sanjan said "I don't blame
you, Mr. Grant.”
“We're detaining )'ou for your own good,
Sanjan, until we understand what you've
got in mind. Now don't get excited."
'Tm not excited," Sanjan said. He stood
backed against the wall, regardinr the line
of men before him. The law! They had
come for thia menace to society. But they
were still undecided. The leader, a police
inspector, turned to Robert Tliome.
''Tdl liim not to make any trouble. Mr.
Th.omc. *’
■‘They won’t hurt you." Sanjan'a father
said.
“No,” Sanjan said. “I know that. Dad.”
There was an ironic smile on hit lips, hut
no one noticed -it.
“You're not being arrested.” his father
sald.-I^hey just want you to go with them to
a comrortable place that’s hotter than this,
I'll come there in the morning, Sanjan.”
"I understand. Dad. of course.”
"Go quietly wit’- them,” Peter Grant said.
" Wc don’t mean it as any indignity, Sanjan.”
“I undersuad, Mr. Grant.”
B ut he did not move. The men started
forward, with a great show of brave-
twii because they were the Law — and the
Law must be obeyed, Sanjan’s lip curled.
jibii^ oath.
"Good-by, Dad," Sanjan said suddenly.
“Try not to be worried over me."
Sattjan put his thou;dits on the Great
Smoky Mountains and tfet war plant there
in Tennessee. Sanjan knew that there was a
huge laboratory there. The finished atomic
bombs were not assembled in the war plant :
merely the basic materials, and the intricate
ris of the firing mecliauisms, Theie would
no atomic bomb explosion. He did not
want that, here in America.
But it would be a good place to start
WTien suddenly the Great Smoky Mountain
plant, so famous, was wrecked, it would
shock all the world.
Thoughts are instant things. As the police-
men lushed at .Sanjan, and his father was
pleading in terror, Sanjan’s intense tlioughW
of the Great Smoky Mountains seemed to
bring them before him like a threshold open-
ing up They were a wide, dim threshold in
a great gray void where things were surging,
fleeting things taking form, evanescent as
thoughts themselves.
There was an iitslaiit, briefer titan anyone
might mathematically name, and during it
Sanjan knew that he was thru-oting himself
forwanl, so that his bedroom ^nd the tini-
formeti men and his father were dimming
Into a memory and he him.self was a part of
the evanescent things which were growing
plainer,
The Great Smoky Mountains formed them-
selves into sulid, serrated ranks of dim
purple, rising up against the distant starry
sky.
Sanjan could feel his feet standing on
rocky ground. Moonlight was failing on the
little rocky declivity here, where stunted
mountain trees were growing. Smoke curled
from the chimneys of a rambling group of
wooden buildings down in the valley which,
he knew, were the big laboratories and the
factories where the parts of the firing mech-
anisms of file atomic bomb were being made.
Though it was midnight, the place was hum-
ming with activity. Naturally this would be
so, in this world crisis !
Sanjan smiled grimly as tie gazed at the
plant. How pleas^ the leaders of the enemy
nations would be when they got the news
tliat the Great Smoky Mmmtaui Plant was
wrecked I Rut their pleasure wouldn’t last
THBILLING \VOKDER STORIES
lOg
more than an hour or two — he could promise
them that I
A little cave mouth raened beside Sanjan.
He turned and went back into the darkness of
the grotto and sat down on a rock. He would
sit here for a while, planning, and then go
into action. . . .
. Back in the Thome residence the sudden
disappearance of Sanjan had brought eon-
rternation and amazement to the police. San-
jan’s father and Mr. Grant.
"My gawsh, he was right there!" yelled
the inspector. “He mav be hiding behind
some of the furniture. Search the room,’*
But a hasty hunt failed to di.sdose Sanjan
and, at last, the police were forced to con-
clude that in BOme way he had escaped,
Another policeman, not trying to invest
the vanishment with science, explained it
neatly. "He was riglrt there, and then he
wasn’t I"
Despite Robert Thome's care, news of it
soon got out. Even while Sanjan was still
sitting in the cave in Tetmessec, the news of
what h^ happened in the quiet suburl«n
home of Robert Thome, the physicist, was
ringing around the world, by press, the radio,
the television.
"Sanjan Thome, the mutant, son of Robert
Thome, demonstrates his supernatural
power!” went out the word. "Supernatural
monster threatens wholesale murder!"
F or that moment the great world of
modem civilization, busy and tense as
it stood on the brink of war, paused momen-
tarily in its billion billion war-making activi-
tie.s. to contemplate this new sensation. At
first everyone Mieved it was a hoax, hut the
myriad channels of the news very soon- con-
vinced them that it wasn’t.
Supernatural ! Even the word itsel F inspires
a thrill of instinctive fear. The Unknown I
No one can face it without a surge of emo-
tion Even now. just at the beginning of
Sanjan's activities, the very thought of him
was inspiring terror — a terror which was to
prove hi* greatest asset,
The Unknown. Already Science was ex-
plaining it.
“Sanjan’s power, miraculous as it seems,
of ctiursc can be explained scientifically. ’’
That was the verdict of a learned scientist,
who for a big fee had been summoned to a
broadcasting studio in such a rush that he
had to plan his talk cnroule. “The strange-
ness of it is only that we have not witnessed
it before.”
Within half an hour, other savants wer«
c^unding a theory. One could listen and
think surely that he understood the learned
phrases, which cited the fundamental in-
stability of all matter, that in last analysis
can be reduced merely to motion. Why,
Professor Eddington said just that, way back
in 1910! Thus, motion is the basis of Matter.
And matter has only a seeming solidity, like
ihe whirling of propellor blades. When in
morion, the blades seem like a solid disc.
Thej- feel like it, if you put a hand against
them. And motion Itself, which creates mat-
ter, is the motion of u'hat ? Eddington had
the answer to that I It is motion which is
just a maelstrom of nothingness 1
And so many others have spoken and writ-
ten of a latent power — something which
might be within one’s self — a power with 'a
vibration »o infinitely rapid, so infinitely tiny,
that it could be compared only to the vibra-
tions of thought. And yet, it was something
different. It consisted of a power which could
disassemble all those basic whirlpools which
make up the human body, and hurl them
elsewhere in that same instant with the speed
of light, to reasseiublp them.
.And the learned scientists, with their minds
on the big fees and their personal prestige,
mentioned the Qtiantum Tneory.
"There is no continuity of existence of
anything material For an infinitesimal in-
stant it exists, instantly is blotted out. re-
existing again an infinitesimal instant later,
And each ■’ '• .-t what it was before.
Farh time it ;. changed lust a little— but
changed both in itself and in the different
part of apace ■ it occupies.”
And tfiis monster Sanjan — what was he?
Whatever he was. certainly he was not
miraculous.
The actual, factual news, during this first
half hour while Sanjan hintscK waj sitting
quietly i‘n the darknc.ss of the little Tennessee
grotto, could only explain that the weird
mutant son of Robert Thome had vanished in
a glow of radiance. But the terrified Thome
felt now that he must tell all he knew, so
he explained what Sanjan had said to him.
And Peter Grant joined him in the telling.
Sanjan had vanished, hut he would reappear
somewhere else. .And his plans were sensa-
tional !
The channels of news were liabbling gar-
bled versions. Leaders of nations everywhere
in the world, some of them roused from sleep.
AHEAD O
weui into Iwsty, soinled coaferettcu. Thu
fiend M-as going to strike at their war plants !
The guartu must be redoubled I Rut that was
ludle. This was a thing supernatural. Or
WM it Just a hoax?
Already, in a way he had never envisaged,
events were helping Sanjan. For a uttle
dme at least the war plans of the world were
being neglected I
And then, in tlie Great Sowky Mountains
of Tennessee, Sanjan struck his first blow.
CHAPTER IV
A/ofter of Dtstruction
T he ttve mouth behind him was a dark,
yawning little pit but Ae path down ^e
declevity was white with shining .iioonlight.
Sanjan had left his heavy, fleece-lined jacket
in ttc cave as the night was warm and the
jacket would only impede him.
He started down the path. It would be a
long climb down into the valley, wiwre the
buildings showed as a duster or lights and
the nmoiilight glistening on the roofs of Ae
low, squat buildings. It appeared to be a long
climb down, but he sudacnlv smiled. For
him. it need onl;y be s flash of thought The
laboratory building would be the best place
to start.
In that moment as he stood there in the
moonlight of the path, Sanjan did aot see the
bloh of a man ’s figiire, below him, w a cross-
ing path. The blob was in the inl^ shadow ^
a big pine tree. Though Sanjan, of course,
could not know it, the blob was Officer Jona-
than McGuffy, of the local police. McGuffy
had finished his long da/s work and was on
hit way home. Down in the nearly village
he had heard the startling newt wi& which
the world was ringing.
Then, quite suddenly, he saw a figure on
the other path above him. plain in the moon-
light. It was .Sanjan. the stipernatund fiend 1
McGuffy had heard the radio descriptions of
how Sanjan looked, how he was dressed. He
was sure the figure above him was the mu-
tant human who had tonight startled ^e
world.
McGuffy ’s revolver seemed to leap into
hit hand. He leveled it. In McGuffy’s mo-
ment of gsiiping shock, he didn't stop to
think that he might be wrong — that this
HIS TIME 101
might be merely sane stalwart young moun-
tjweer of the region. Nor did it occur to
him that, so far, Sanjan, the superhuman
fiend, actually had done nothing mr whioh
he deserved death. McGuffy was only tbink-
iiw how wonderful it would be if Jonathait
h^Guffy could spring into world fame, right
now, by killing tne monster.
He steadied himself, bracing his arm
against the tree. He took careful aim. He
was a crack shot. Though Sanjan did not
know it, that was his first moment of supreme
peril. His body was only human. A bullet
would kill him. He was thinking of the in-
terior of the big laboratory down in the val-
ley. A gray threshold was opening before
him.
McGuffy 'i finger Hid not pul! the trigger.
He gasped. There was nothing up there in
the moonlight of the other path, nothing but
the faintest tinge of opalescent raHiance,
mingling witlv the moonlight where the figure
of Sanjan had been.
If McGuffy had had even the faintest
doubt that he had seen Sanjan the fiend, k
was dispelled now. For a moment he stood
transfixed with disappointm«-nt. What an
opportunity! Cautiously he picked his way
up to where the f^re had been, Then he
saw the cave mouth and, exploring the little
grotto, ha came upon Sanjan’a jacket. The
inference was obvious;. Sanjaq expected to
return here.
If McGuffy had done what perhaps ha
should have done, he would have notified his
superiors at once of what he had seen here.
But he didn't. He was picturing himself,
alone and unaided, killing this monster, and
delivering Sanjan’a body m triumph. By to-
morrow, everyone in the world would have
heard of Jonathan McGuffy. At the very
least, he would get cm tlw Nashville force.
He'd be Captain McGuffr!
So McGuffy stayed where he was. In a
comer of the cave he cruuched, udlh drawn
revolver. He was alert, watchful, But in-
side he was shuddering. . . .
The big interior of the Great Smoky
moujilaiu atimiic laboratory was a blurred
acene of eerie lights and a litter of apparatus
in the midst of which the fimires of the work-
men moved with silent efficiency. Suddenly
one of them looked up, pointed toward a
doorway and yelled ;
"Look I Who’s that?”
In the dim glow of his opalescence, weirdly
apparent hers, Sanjan was standing motion-
1«S THRnXIKG WONDER STORTFS
]««•, M he !o<4(ed around. In the corridor
behind him, he could hear the outer guards
calmly talking with each otlicr.
"Wlrat you want?” one of the workmen
called. Tl-icy had been so busy here, during
this last hour, that they hadn’t heard about
Sanjan. But at this first quick glance they
saw nothing weird about him.
T hey all stood staring now at the in-
Irader, a hundred or more of them.
“Who the devil are you?" somebody called
“No one’s allowed in here!"
"You must all leave.” Sanjan said.
“Yotill be killed if you stay." Then behind
him. he could hear the alarmed guards com-
ing on the run. They were shoiittrm.
°‘Heyl What’s goin’ on in iharer’
One of them tired a warning shot. It
whistleri over Sanjan's head, thudded into
the ceiling above him. It startled him. Never
must he forget that he was human I
Then the workmen in tlie laboratory were
gaspti^, numbed, suddenly mute with in-
credulous astonishment. The figure of the
youne man intruder dad in heavy high boots,
hroad leather belt and heavy dark shirt, had
suddenly vanished from the doorway ! Only
the glow of him was there. But almost in-
.stantly they saw him again at the other side
of the room.
“Runl" Sanjan shouted. “Get out of
here' You'll be killed, I tell you!" With a
sweep of his arm he smashed s line of glow-
ing retorts.
Inrredible saboteur! Suddenly it was as
though the room were full of duplicating
mirrors, each of them in succession holding
a fleeting image of the appearing and vanish-
ing Sanjan. As though a dozen of him were
present on the little iron balcony : over there
in the comer, smashing with a mallet the con-
trols of the electric furnace.
In the panic of the room, the running in-
mates met the oncoming guards, forced them
back, One of the guards bad heard the new.':
over the radio.
"It’s Sanjan the ficud!” he shouted.
"Run! Nun fin your lives! It's the fiend!”
Tbcii Sanjan knew he was alone, with
acrid fumes and STiiuke rising around him.
For just another nunnctit he stayed, with his
iron mallet crashing at the wires and tiilies.
The deranged electricity crackled, sparkled
with showers of colored sparks. And the de-
railment spread, Short-circuits followed,
and explosions of chemicals from retorts
which had crashed. A hissing, crackling,
spluttering turmoil In the midst of whiw
ilamca were rising, spreading, attacking the-
inltrior woodwork of the room. . . .
On the path the cave, -Sanjan stood
gazing down into the moon drenched valley.
Smoke and flame wens down there — flame
mingled with the constant bursts of explo-
sioDS. AH the buildings were aflame now. A
great burst of fire gushed up as one irf the
roofs fell in. the blurred, reverberating roar
of an explosion coming a moment later. A
yellow-r^ glare spouted heavenward with
billows of smoke roiling up.
For a moment the panting Sanjan stood
on the path, gazing down. He was tired,
winded. One of ms hands was burned a
little. He would lie in the cave for a while
and then — the Ural Mountains war project
perhaps should be next.
He found himself in the cave. He had left
his jacket here. Where was it? By the glow
of opalescence from his body he could see
that the jacket wasn’t where he had thought
he left it. Then he .saw it. lying on a nearby
rode.
Some tiny sound, instantly apparent to
Sanjan’s swift, acute senses, gave mm a flash
of warning. Across the cave be saw die blob
of a dark crouching figure with a revolver
leveled at him!
In that flash, when he became aware that
he was beir^ attacked, f^njan could have
escaped. Thoeght of that munitions plant in
the Ural Mountains again came to him, hut
he thrust it away. He must not always van-
ish when attack^, like a craven coward. To
the world then he wooW be just a fugitive,
to be hunted and a»-*'lcd with impunity.
This was his chance to show his prowess.
Officer McGuflh’'s revolver spat yellow-red
flame. The bullet sang (hrmigh the radiant
space where Sanjan had been. McGuffy
gasped as Sanjan loomed beside him. Perhaps
in a normal fight the burly McGu% would
have given a good account of himself. But he
was too dazed and terrified now. With a
blow of cat-like swiftness Sanjan knocked
the weapon from his hand.
"You're not quick enough." Sanjan said.
“Come on I Can’t you fight?"
M cGUFFY did. Or at least, in his des-
perate terror he tried to strike back
at this weird, glowing adversary. He
atraighiracd, staggered, and tlien Sanjan
was cuffing liim, nimbly avoiding the bigger
AHEAD O:
man’s biill-Hke rushes. With doubled fist he
struck McGuffy in the face, parried what to
Sanjan was a slow, clumsy swing, and hit
his amilant again. McGuify went down.
Sanjan bent over him. Sanjan'a knife point
was at McGuffy’s throat.
"Don’t — don't kill me!” hfcGuffy gasped.
'Tm not going to kill you,” Sanjan said.
"But ycM realize that I can. very easily. You
go back and tell them that. If you don’t. I'D
seek you out and kill yciu next time. You
tell them, whoever attacks Sanjan will ditt
You understand me?"
■ "Yes — ^>-ea — T will!" McGuIfy yelled.
In the next instant he knew tlUt he was
alone In the cave, with only a brief faintly
lingering radiance to mark where his weird
antagonist had been.
To inspire terror. Sanjan knew that was
his greatest single asset, and he knew he
needed it. Already he was beginning to
realize the monumental aize of the imtk be-
fore him. And the little incident in the Ten-
nessee cave with McGuffy immediately was
helpful. Sanjan found an unoccupied house
in the dark, nearhv village. He found a ra-
dio in it* living room, turned It on, and for a
moment listened.
"The Great Smoky Mountain Laborator-
ies and factories have been destroyed by San-
jan, the supernatural monster I” an announc-
er was crying. "The Tennessee war plant is
In flames and almost total destruction has
been reported, with a death toll of tiiirty-
three."
Sanjan listened grimly. He had done his
best tn minimiie those dealh*. There would
be more, of course. Soon Officer McGuffy
was mentioned.
" — and in a nearby cave. Officer Jonathan
MeCiuffv of Fine Kidge, met the fiend in
peraotia! encounter. . . He's an unkillable
monster ..."
The dazed and terrified McGuffy had gar-
bled it considerably. Sanjan chuckled grimly
as he listened. McGuffy was convinced that
his bullet had gone through the fiend, and
had not harmed him, that .'Sanjan was an un*
tillable being, in the gtiise of a young man,
wholly ^upe^latu^a! ! It was what Sanjso
liad hoped. Surely tlie McGuffy incident
would inspire a new terror which would be
helpful.
"The waiplant in the Ural Mountains now
required his presence.
Sanjan a moment later stood on a rocky
height of snow-dad peaks, gating down at
' MIS TIME 103
the huddled group of buildings in the hollow,
with their lights and electrified fences and
alert ^srds. Fighter planes droned over-
head. This plant would oe more difficult. He
needed to know just what was inside, just
where the munitions were located, and to
determine how he could cause an explosion.
Soon he stood in a corridor, listening at a
doorway to the men who were talking inside.
He investigated one building, then anoth-
er. He had not lieen seen, not as yet. There
was no alann . . .
An liour had passeci perhaps, since he had
flight refuge in the unoccupied Hllle lifuise
in the Tennessee village and listened to die
radio. He knew now, here ill the Ural Moun-
tains. how when the proper time came, he
could inspire panic by making his preaence
known, leaping with a flash of thought from
one part of the buildings to another so that
the panic-stricken workers would flee. After
ward he would set off a bomb which wmdd
detonate all the explosit es here.
Hi* was a strange power — so gigantic in
its practical workings, and yet so queerly
limited In these few hotirs he wa» htim^.
thlrafy. tired His miiscW ached The*e
were simple human needs which had to he
supplied, and he was just one person, with
the whole gigantic world teeming with the
activities of war.
For that moment as he thought of It. San-
jan was appalled. There wtre warshipj on
the high seas. Just for a numient now. he
sought one of them out. In it* engine room
he appeared, .shouting,
"I am Sanjan I I have come to sink tins
ship!’'
O N THE bridge he stood beside the Otp-
tein. "I am Sanjan! I order you to
abandon ship!”
Like a will-o’-the-wnsp, appearing only for
seconds in a myriad parts of the huge ves-
sel, unt’l at last it lay wallowing in the seas,
ab^d* -d. This task had only taken a few
minute*, but the ship was just one of so
many!
Sanjan saw now tliat he must bring other
factors than mere sabotage to aid him in
stopping this war. There must be intimida-
tion of the world's leaders. The Ural Moun-
tain plant still was unharmed. The Ten-
nessee plant was destroyed. From what the
world Icnew, so far, this monster Sanjan
was only attacking America. Sanjan re-
alized that this was the strategic moment for
1M THRIUJNG WONDER STORIES
him to app«*r in Washington. He stood on
the bridge n( the abandoned warship wallow-
ing in the seaa off Cape Hatteras, and thought
of what he must do, in Washington, . . .
The President and his cabinet were in a
midnight emergenc)' session. The Secret
Service men were watchful outside their
dosed doors. Then the grave-faced leaden of
the greatest gm-ernment in the world looked
up from around their big polished mahogany
Ubie and they were terrified, mute with dared
incrrdiiHtv as they stared at the glowing in-
truder in their midst.
“The fiend!” someone gasped. "Sanjan is
here!"
“Sftnjan. the mutant,” Sanjan said. "Don’t
cry out. Quiet now! You can see that I can
kill any one of you. But I won’t. I’ve just
come to warn you.”
One of the cabinet officers recovered hia
wits a little. "Sanjan Thome." he said.
“You’re an American— and you turn your
wer against us! You are using your dia-
lic pojver against your own country.”
"It would be too bad if I stuck to that
policy, wouldn't it?” Sanjan said. "Our ene-
mies, just for this moment now- well, I
guess they’re gloating. You and your allied
governments sent them an iiltimatlum To-
day."
“It had to he «ent.” the cabinet member
explained. “Don’t you understand — ”
"I tell you now to withdraw it,” Sanjan
said, “Make that public now. It will give
me lime. You’ll do that because you know
that T can come back at any time and kill
any one of you, How can your guards protect
you?” His eyes flashed and every man in
the room knew that he meant what he said.
”J can kill you — at your desks — in your bed-
rooms I”
CHAPTER V
World In Terror
W ITHIN an hour the world’s radioa
were blaring the news.
”At an eiiiei^cncy press session, the Presi-
dent at three a. m. this morning, announced
that the ultimatums sent today have been
temporarily caiicelleU. Tlie Auibassadors in-
volved have been instructed immediately to
cable their governments.”
And there was another conference taking
place, high up in an Alpine retreat. Sanjan
quietly listened to it ; learned what he wanted
to know. Then he appeared and warned the
officials as frightened interpreters there
miinibled a translation of his words:
"The ultimatums from America and other
nations ha%'e been withdrawn. You can save
face wilh yuur pwplc tiow and you have no
need to cross tliat border. Your armies are
mobilized, ready to sweep forward. I know
that. Order them hack! If they’re on the
march now. order them back P
He made a sudden movement toward one
of the dazed, uniformed men — a man gaudy
with the militarv- decorations, a leader of
great importance to his hypnotized pecfrie.
"You!” .Sanjan said menacingly. ”It
would give me great pleasure to come back
and .stick a knife into you!”
Radiance quivered where he had been, and
then he wu.h gone. . . .
With the quickness of thought. Sanjan re-
turned to the Ural Mountains to carry curt
hi* plans there. Within twenty minutes a
powerfiil radio was announcing to the star-
tled world:
"The great Ural Mountains plant ha.s just
been destroved bv an explosion. Sanjan. the
monster, has made his appearance in Eu-
rope."
In England and America great multiple
presses started tn roll, niching out special
editions of newspaper*. Excitement mounted
throughout the world.
But the inflamnwiory iillimalums had been
withdrawn and in mid-Eurt^>e. the maiuied
armies did not move. A week passed. Then
another. The wr -Id had been upon the brink
of war. but there *- -t Seen a change, a lialtmg
change, perhaps nterely temporary. Every
leader, a,* he went to bed. eould not help
thinking:
"Will the .Mipernatnral monster come here
and fry to kill met Our war plants are be-
ing destroyed. Without our weapons of war,
wc will be tlefencelr«s against the enemy.
Sanjan must be trapped !"
For days and weeks now, the prospects of
war had taken secondary place. The out-
raged. frightened world was hunting for San-
jaii. News of him continued to pour in.
"The monster has been seen at tlic Green-
land International Airbase.” Then: "The
fiend appeared last night on a hill tn Malta,
AHEAD OF H19 TIMS
Subsequently, sevcnd vessels of the Medi-
terranesu fleet were wrecked."
There were times, when in any secluded
place he couM locate. Sanjan had to sleep,
always with the danger that he might have
been seen and might m killed while sleeping.
Many times, at night, when hungry and
thirsty, he aktill«d along the roads and among
the hotisas of villages, seizing what he
needed.
Like a fugitive, with the world bunting
him. was Sanjan! It was the world's most
hsted and fearr<l name. But, day by day,
night after night, the destruction went stead*
ily on.
'Singapore Naval Base has been aeverely
damaged . . The Smolensk atomic bomb
plant has been wrecked . , . The Alaskan
airha.se has been attacked by the monster 1
. . . Great atomic bomb plant explodes in
Chile, and the area of dangerous radio-
activity spreads. Santiago has been evacu-
ated 1 South .'\merica. last night, received its
flrst visitation by Che supernatural monster.
Panic is spreading in the capitals of the
southern Republics. Conference in Buenos
Aires forms new plans for hurting down this
menace to the world.”
How could there be time for nations to be
making war on each other? There was only
the cry:
"Sanjan must be destroyed!'’
At the conference in Buenos Aires, Sanjan
for a little time stood tronicaBy smiling and
IkAcning. listening behind portieres. Spanish
was one of the languages he had readily ab-
sorbed from his tutors when he was a child.
He listened to the futile plans which were
being made here to trap him. Then, for juat
a few seconds, he app>eared in a distant, open
corner of the room and told them in Spanish
"You fool ycyjrselves. I cannot be cajcght-
T cannot he killed.’*
Quickly he was gone, with only his radi-
ance lingering after him ...
A FEW days later, the Head of the
Federal Bureau of Investigations,
in Washington, was conferring with the
President, the cabinet members, congres-
sional leaders and police commissioners from
the leading cities of the nation.
"Every effort must be made,’’ the Presi-
dent was sa)’in^. "We must try and {^suade
him to turn his activities only against our
enemies.''
lOB
They discussed it,
“But he couldn't be trusted," the F.B.I.
head said. "That’s obvious. He is deranged
mentally.’’ Sanjan departed.
The leaders in the Alpine retreat were,
almost at that same time, saying the same
things.
"He it deranged. He must be killed."
The listening Sanjan smiled and Sanjan
appeared among them. He was biasing with
anger. He could speak enough of their lan-
giuin to rip out :
" «Tiile I live, you will never resume your
plans. I shall step destroying property soon,
and destroy only the world's leaders !’’
His grim words were still echoing la the
room after he was gone.
At long last his thoughts had turned home-
ward, for a great nostalgia had ns-ercome
him. In a few seconds he was there again,
back in the garden where he had spent his
outh. He concealed himself behind some
ushes and slept soundly for a time. Then ha
sought out Vana Grant and told her all that
he had done. She knew most of it from the
radio and the new.^papers, but she heard it
all over again, from his lips.
That afternoon they spent in the Grant
garden, hidden safely by the trees and shnib-
bery. Here they could not be seen or heard
from the houses, if they talked softly. Finally
she threw her arras around Jiim and gaze^
fondly into his face.
"Vou are so changed. Sanjan 1” she said.
His boots were worn, his clothes ripi>cd
and soiled, burned in places. There was a
growth of ragged beard on hU face and he
was haggard and drawn.
"I wanted to see you, Vana,’’ he told her,
“Just to be near you. for a little while,"
"Yea, I know."
She held his head against her. like a moth-
er comforting a tired child.
It wai good to be with Vana again. It
was InnHy, being a hated outcast, reviled,
feared ; a monster, hunted by ail the world.
"There is stsll much to do. Vana,”
"Yes. I know."
"So much more than I realised." He was
trying to smile, but it was a wan, discour-
aged smile. "I don’t think I’ve accomplished
very much, Vana."
"But Sanjan !’’ she protested. "If it liadn’t
been for you, the world would have been at
war by now.”
"Yet, that’s true,” he agreed. "But I'va
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
IM
only poktponed h.'
"But tliBt’f soinetlilng, Sanjan." Site shud-
deted. "A week or two of atomic war, with
bombs falling, would have reduced the world
to ruins."
"Just a postponement.” he said bitterly.
“Don’t you see. they’ve all stopped thinking
of war, just because they're so busy hunting
Sanjan."
"But what you’ve destroyed — ”
"Nothing al all.” he said, "compared to
the whole. They’d never even miss it. 'With
me out of the way. within a few weeks
they'd — "
“Sanjan I Don’t talk like that !"
"I have just this one human body, Vans.
Maybe I’ve had a lot of luck — not killing my-
self, or being killed, long before this.”
"Sanjnn, dear.”
She could only hold him, try to conifwt
him. Tlie woman’s place, perhaps not fully to
understand, but always to comfort, giving the
strength of her spirit to the man.
"SOTnetinies f am afraid. Vana."
"No. Sanjan. you mustn’t be.”
"Not for myself. But the world is so big,”
T O LEAVE the task uncompleted, that
would be failure. So quickly the dread
name of Sanjan would just be a memory
and the world could resume its normal ac-
tivities. It would go on, of course, just as it
had before. That universal cry, "We need de-
fense I" would sound again. And Sanjan
knew there was truth in that, of course.
Everyone, weak or strong, must have the
means of war — or they all must have none.
"But if T sho?ild fail, Vana?”
"You will not- You cannot. It’s too im-
portant, Sanjan."
And as she held him. caressing him. he
felt a new strength : and presently he drew
back from her arms and sal straight.
"I shall not fail. Vana.”
“No. of course not. Sanjan."
"I shall go on and on, until it is done.”
"Rut sometimes von must rest,” she mur-
imired.
""yes, I do.”
"Where?"
He smiled, “Wherever I am. or think that
T would lie." And then he gestured past
the frees of the garden, out to where the
setting sun laitl a sheen of yellow and gold
across the sky. ".Sometimes I come and
sleep, quite near here, Vana, to be near you.
Somehow it seems lest lonely.”
"Where. Sanjan?”
He lowered his voice. "You remember
that little cave, up there on the hill, where
we used to play when we were children?”
"Smee's Lave?"
"Smee. the pirate. Remember?"
"He had a hook for a hand. I was to
afraid of him — ”
“.And you were Wendy,” Sanjan said.
“And I was Peter Pan.”
"And we had a little liell to ring. That
was Tinker Bell, the fairy. Oh Sanjan, we
were so happy then,"
He held her close. "We will be Iwppy
again. Vana. That'* what I'm trj’ing to d^—
help to make the world a place where people
can just be happy and not afraid."
For a time he was silent. Finally he said.
"I was up in the Alps. 1 told tbem there
that soon I would begin destroying, not just
property, but the leaders of the nations them-
selves.”
“Deliberate niurtler, Sanjan?”
“I know.” he said. ".\nd then I got to
thinking. AVhich of the leaders can you actu-
ally blame: From my viewpoint, surely not
our own President. He is doing hi.s best, as
he sees it.”
“Yes. I 8upp<yse so." she agreed.
“I have threatened them, so that perhaps
they’ll think more in terms of compromise
and less In terms ol war. And if I killed .s<»ne
of them, what good would it really do? Oth-
ers would step into their places. Things
wouM go on just llie same."
"But the vorld mav change. Sanjan,"
Vana said, least, vou are snowing them
the way."
"I know it. .^nd I'll keep on."
His quick ears heard the sound of some-
one coming from \'ana's house. His glance
warned her. He drew back from the wartpth
of her arms. He stood up.
There was just a little glow of radiance
where he had been. . . .
CHAPTER VI
End of a Dr ram
S MEE’S CAY'S it was called. It had
been one of the faiwies of their child-
hood when love and peace and happiness had
107
AHEAD OP ms TIME
reigned in their lives, A few nights after he
had talked with Vana in her garden, Sanjan
came back, tired, and stretched himself to
rest at die mouth of the cave. He had been
in mid-Europe. After a day and night of
careful investigating, he had caused a mon-
strous atomic explosion there. Factories
crowdefl widi bomb-bearing rockets had gone
up, and many of the finished bombs them-
selves. T^tit so many people had been killed :
and so wide, so crowded an area was devas-
tated by the deadly radioactivity that Sanjan
decided it was almost as horrible as war
it.selE.
Sanjan lay shuddering. And then with
tired, wandering, drifting thoughts, he was
thinking only of Vana. It was comforting,
at least, to be here in the little cave so near
her home, a hallowed little place, which now,
to Sanjan. seemed a symbol of what most of
mankind really wanted
The .sudden sound of a loose stone rat-
tling brought him out of his drifting thoughts.
He snapped into startled alertne.ss ; and then
he turned and saw the figure of Vana with
the moonlight on her as she. came up the
stony little path.
‘‘Vana! Vana, dear!”
“You're here, Sanjan ! Oh. I’m so glad !
I just wanted to be near ymj — to hold you
again."
“And I wanted you. Ju.st you, Vana.
Nothing else.”
The mtjonlight wrapped them as they sat
in the mouth of the cave.
Hardly any warning came to Sanjan.
There was Vaua’s love, her arms around him.
with peiiaps acme faint little sound intrud-
ing. Tldn it flashed to him that Vana had
been tricked. She had been watched, and
now had been followed here ! The shapes of
men were suddenly here in tlie shadows.
“Vanal”
He felt her start at his murmured warn-
ing. In an instant Sanjan freed himself from
her arms and tried to leap to his feet. A
man’s low voice muttered to someone dse
aud another man lunged forward, with his
arm drawn back.
Simultaneously, Sanjan ’s wary, protective
thoughts leaped I That mountaintop in Lab-
rador ! He could be there now and escape
this attack. But the threshold opening be-
fore him drew together and dosed as be
heard Vana’s frightened cry.
That fatal cry from Vanal She did not
ntean it, of course. It burst from her.
“Sanjan 1 Sanjan!”
He lingered, fearful that she might be
hurt, with every instinct in him springing to
her protection. He turned, momentarily,
with no thought at all, except for lier. Next,
he was aware of a man’s arm coming for-
ward, a hand hurling s<mething, and a liquid
struck against his face with searing, acrid
fumes choking him, and eating into his eyes
with a searing pain up into his brain, like
fire spreading there.
“Saiijant Sanjan, dearl Go! Go!”
But to Sanjan there was no moonlight here
now — no sight of Vana. Nothing was here
hut his whirling thoughts, and the burning
horrible pain on his face, in his eyes, his
brain, and a ring of muttering voices in the
blackness around him,
"Watch out!” they cried. “Be careful of
what he may do. Ah-h-kl We've got him!”
"No! Kill him now I We can kill him
now!"
“Wait! Wait! He could have gone al-
ready, but he hasn’t!”
Next came Vana'.s despairing cry, so that
he tried to stumble in the darkness toward
her. Labrador 1 He would he safe in that
little hideout in Labrador .
But with the add eating into bis eyes,
there was only the darkness of .'lanjan’s futile
thoughts. There would he nothing but this
eternal darknc.ss for him now. in I-ahrador,
or anywhere else. Alone tiiere, he would he.
helpless.
‘‘We've got him.”
“He doesn’t go 1 See, he stays here.”
"We did it! Maybe a bullet wouldn’t
have kiUed him. but this did the business.
He’s helpless and he knows it!”
"What can a blind man do ?”
Sanjan was murmuring. “Vana! Vana.
dear."
S OON he found her. Down oo the ground
he found her, and she sobbed and held
him ...
"We’ve captured him at last. Send out
the news. Jenkins What a night’s work for
us! Send out the newsi We’ve got Sanjan
— we've got him alive and helpless!”
Like a wild beast, they had caught Sanjan,
alive and subdued. Within an hour the world
of civilization was ringing with it.
“Oh, Vsma!”
“You can't go, Sanjan?”
“What'sthe use, now, Vana?”
The Valley of the Nik? The mountains
108
THRILUKO WOKDEB ITORIES
of CarpAlhU? He enuM be there now, in
the darkness. But he would be lost always
in darkness.
What could he do, anywhere. Just stum-
bling in the dark t
"They've got me. Vans. It's all over."
She held hmi. She was sobbing.
They let her hold him. thr«igh alt thoae
hours when all tlw world debateo what to do
with him. Study him? Experiment on him?
Science wanted to do that. Or would he
rebel?
Would he, with a last dcaperate effort, go
acwnewhere ?
Even though in the darkneaa of the blind,
might he not seek out some world leader, try
to assassinate him becau.se of tome crazed
idea of vengeance?
The leaders of the wOrld feared to lei hiin
live,
He must be destroyed.
And here in Smee's Cave, he clung in the
darkness to Vana. in the warmth of her arms.
They both heard the balihlc around them, but
they hardly heeded it.
A little wiKnien runway had lieen erected,
from the rave down to where a huge elec-
tronic furnace now yawned whh its open pit
of monstrons heat. And on the ragged, stone
hillside here at dawn, a crowd of people now
had gathered to witness the execution. San-
Jan. the fiend, was going i^his death . . .
T hen as the east^m^I^Awns brightening
with the coming sun^f a new day for the
world. Santas heard a man's voice; and he
could feel that the man was standing here
before him and Vana.
'"nie decision Is that you m^ist die. .San-
Jan." the man announced.
“Yes.’’ Sanjan said. “I realize it Oh
Vana, plea«e don’t cry."
His father came and spoke in a choked
voice. “Sanjan, son I”
"Ohl . . . Hello. Dad."
“I fought so against the dedsson," Me
father was sayiztg. “All night I’ve been fight-
ing it. I’ve txietl so hard."
^'ThankSi Dad. And — good luck to you.
Good luck to you all.”
Then In the darkness he could feel Vana
and his father heing taken away from him
The blood-colored sun of the new day waa
peering over the ea.stern horizon when San-
( an stood up and was guided to the runway,
n the flush of pink dawn-light, the watching
people on the hillside were suddenly hushed
with awe as they stared at the lone figure.
But some of them were murmuring to each
other:
“Will the war come now ?’’
“If only he could have succeeiled !”
“Impossible!*'
“He has to die. He'i
man ahead of his
"But some day, John — ”
"Yet. tome day.”
Slowly in the ftiish of the dawn, the lone
figure moved down the runway. It waa a j
ragged, almost pitiful figure now; but It j
moved steadily, with arms oiitstretcbed.
"SanianI Oh, Sanjan dear!” That waa 1
\'ana'i »st little murmured cry as she clung ^
to Robert Thome.
On the ninwav, Sanjan was walking slow-
ly. steadily down.
Pometiiiits his ouUiretchrd hands touched
the side rails to guide him. Just a ragged
youth. Wind and helpless
But there waa a radiance from him.
At last he reached the brink. He paused,
with the glare and the heat of the furnace on
him.
And then he took another stqi, and went
down.
The radiance which was .Sanjan mingled
for just an instant with the monstrous, con-
suming fire of science — and was gone.
DL DrlumpL of fL £gg!
O NE of die oldest and most perplexing riddles to plague mankind — whether the chicken
Of the egg came first— has been finally solved by science, according to Professor Alfred
S. Roeoer of Harvard University. The egg came first!
The development <rf the hard-shelJed egg was a vital step m the progress of evolution, says
Professor Romer. Thanks to its growth reptiles were enabled to lay eggs on land, thus
freeing themselves of dependeoce on water as a hatching agent and allowing purely land
creaturez, among them ultimately the chicken, to evolve. ^ the aneesler of the Sunday dinner
staple was, however remotely, a wriggly poElywog or embryonic plesiosaurus.
C«n« »«maM H«Im to »a« m Hw UtntHw ttt
The lino^ledgc Machine
By CCMONE) HAMILTOSd
Pete Puidy and James Ccrrfer ©afabiish B/ecfricaJ Education
as a sboitcut to learning, but fail to foresee the zesultl
I WISH uow I’d nevsr heard of Electro-
Education! Sure, it made me a multi-
milUonaire. But what else did it do
to me? What did It do to everybody?
The trouble with me was that I was too
ambitious. I had a nice wife and we were
piaonlng on a family. I wasn’t satisfied with
just being Pete Purdy, the best electric re-
IM
psdr*man In New York. 1 wanted something
bigger and better for my family. Boy, did
I get Itt
It began when I was celled over to Gotham
University to repair a motor-generator that
had gone sour. It was in the laboratory of
Doctor Z<ewia Klndler, the big psycho-physi-
ologist research man there. Of course, I
110 THRnXTNO WONDKR STORIRS
didn’t know then who he was. To me, he was
juit a thin, haggard old guy who looked
like « nervous wreck as be told me about
the generator.
“It must be repaired immediately — at
once!” he shrilled. “We’re just completing
an epochal research. Epochal, you hear?”
1 chrugged. 'TU do the best I can. But
this model’s complicated. It'll take a week
to rip her down and rewind the coils.”
“A week?” he screeched. “Impossible!’’
“We can’t wait that long!"
His colleague, a stocky, bullet-beaded
young scientist named James Carter, tried
to soothe the old boy down.
"Doctor Klndler. you really must rest!
You heve been working too hard for months
on these experiments. You know now it's
a success. Why not try to relax?”
"Relax?” screamed the old scientist. And
then, aU of a sudden, he went clean ofi his
head.
He just collapsed, raving about rays and
neurones and e lot of other stuff. Young
Carter called doctors and officials of the
imiverslty quick. They took him away,
yeUing at the top of hus voice.
Next morning as I was working in the
laboratory on the generator. Carter came in
looking pretty blue.
“Doctor Kindler has had a complete men-
tal breakdown from overwork.” he told me.
"He’s been removed to a sanitarium, and
may remain there in a schizophrenic state
for years.”
"^hizophrenic? That’s tough.” I won-
dered what it meant. “I guess the old man
was a pretty big shot in science, huh?"
"We had just completed the greatest dis-
covery in tile ljia(oiy of psychology,” Carter
said. "He was It/p.s in the field.”
I kept on working at the generator, while
young James Carter walked up and down
the laboratory looking pretty moody.
He kept staring at a big machine in the
comer. It was nothing I could recognize,
for I’m a good electrician but thc.-ic crazy
scientific hookups are wav over my heed. To
me, it looked something like a pei-manent
wave machine, with a metal cap like the
dames put over their heads.
Carter spoke as though he was talking
to himself, gritting his teeth as he looked
at that big macliiue.
“A discoverv that means millions, bil-
lions! If I only had enough money to develop
and exploit it!”
1 PRICKED up my ears at that Sclentiflo
discoveries don’t interest me so mudi,
but millions interest anybody.
“What is the thing?” I asked. “Some new
kind of rig for atomic power?"
“No, no. it's nothing like that,” Carter
muttered. “It deals with the mind. I could
revolutionize the world with this thing if I
had money enough to develop improved
apparatus. ”
“Won’t the university put up the dough
for the stuff you need?” I asked him.
He laughed kind of sour. "Of course they
would. But they would also then appropriate
all title to iL Whereas if I could develop
it myself. It would make me the richest man
in history.”
That interested me a lot. Here was 1, Pete
Purdy, with ambitions for Helen and the
family we planned to have, end maybe I’d
stumbled on a chance to get In on the ground
floor of something big.
I got up and went over to Carter and
looked at the machine with him.
“How much dough would you need for
new apparatus?” 1 asked. "And what is the
discovery, anyway?”
Carter looked at me, his eyes narrowing
a little as (hough he saw me for the first
“You mean that you might be interested
in Investing in it. Birdy?”
“Purdy." I said, and I hedged a little th«t.
“I don’t know. I’ve saved some money and
also my wife’s Unde Dimblewitt left her a
legacy last year. We've got thirty thousand
and 1 was figuring to open up my own elec-
tric repair-shop when I got a little more.”
Carter bit his Up. “Thirty thousand,” he
muttered. “It might be done with that. It
just might”
"Hold on, don’t spend my dough so fast!”
I told him. "First what is ;he gadget?”
He got ail eager and excited a.s Ke ex-
plained. “It's a new method of educetioh.”
"Oh!” I said, and I guess my voice was
plenty flat. “Well, that’s fine. But I don’t
think there’d be much profit In that”
"You don’t know what you're talking
about!" Carter blazed, '"niis method of
education is new! It's sometUng entirely
undreamed of until now.”
He asked me:
“When you learn something, when you
learn that the Earth is round, for Instance,
how does your brain do it?”
' “1 don't know,” 1 said. "How does It?”
THE KNOWLEDGE MACIDNE 111
“Tha narva-eella of your brain, th# neu-
rones, already contain the Ideas of Earth
and round," ha explained. "Constant r^>e-
tlUon of 'Earth is round' establishes s ooa-
nacUoii between the two neurone-groups,
by gradually lowering tha resistanee at the
I synapses of neurone-contacts. Thus, whan
I In future you think of Earth, tha thought-
impulse fishes along that low-resistanca
path to the specific neurones contalnJng
roMtttl."
Being an electrician, I could dimly under-
stand that.
"So 'that’s how it’s donaT” I said. "And
that’s why you have to study ihlnp so long
to laern them?”
Carter nodded quickly. "Long study and
repetition establishes tha neural paths nec-
essary for remembering. But suppose, by
applying a tiny electronic Impulse f rom out-
side. you could orti/tcwUv establish a low-
resistance path between those two neurone-
groups?”
I got that, too. "Then I'd know that 'Earth
is round' without having to bother learning
it?"
"That’s the idea'” Carter said. "And that’a
«dial Doctor Kindler has been working on
for yaara. I worked with him. of course,” he
added hastily. "The ^scovery la as much
mine as his.”
"You see,” he went on, “we Invented a
scanner that can change the labyrinthine
naural-conncotlons of the brain by tiny elea-
tronlo impulses, just as you can rewire that
generelor's colls. With it, we can set up any
desired neural paths in an instant by apply-
ing just tha right electronic impulses at the
right points In the network.
"Any ordinary set of facts requires thou-
sands of new neural paths in the brain. To
learn a subject like Sanskrit, for instance,
requires tens of thousands. The scanner can
put these new neural connections In your
brain In a flash, 1^ projecting a pre-deter-
mined pattern of electronic impulsea.”
"Can it be done?” I asked him.
"We prorsd it could be done!" Carter told
me. “Doctor Kindler knew Praneh, and I
didn’t Ihe scanner first scanned his neural
iwtterns, Isolated those having to do with
word-meanings, and recorded them on a
moving (ap«. Then we ran the tape back,
reversing the scanner so it would repeat that
pattern of electronic Impulses on my own
brain. It took ten minutes. At the end of
that time, I knew French perfectlyl"
HAT was a little hard to swallow.
"You mean, you didn’t hava to study
it or anything?" 1 said. "You just knew It,
all of a sudden?"
“Exactly," said Carter. “I see you look
incredulous. 1 can soon prove the thing by
running th* same tape through on you.”
He grabbed the big metal cap that was
connected to the machine by a lot of cables,
and jammed it down on my head.
I t»gan to protest, I didn't like the idea of
anybody fooliug aiuuud wiUi my mind. But
Carter switched on the machine before I
could stop him.
There was a humming, and a tape started
unwinding inside the madiice. I ^dn't feel
anything except a queer tingling in my
bead. In a few minutes the humming
stopped, and the tingling stopped too.
Carter took the metal oap off me and
looked at ma.
“Well, I don’t feel any different,” I told
him
“VoM aoves He francais mointenent?” he
ibot at me.
“Oat, perfaitement,” I shot right back at
kirn. “Met*—”
I broka off, and goggled. "Holy caU, It
worked! I do know French, just like that!”
I did, too. I could speak It as easy as Elng-
lish. And I'd never known a word of It In
my life before. The thing floored me.
“Now do you believe?” Carter 'asked.
"And how!” I managed to say. "But I
still don’t see how there's millions to be made
from it'’
“Think, manl” he said. "It takes a student
lour years and several thousand dollars to
gat a university education. Suppose be can
go in and get it off tapea for a few h\indred
dollars?”
Tha possibilities of It hit me. just Ilka that
“Say, there’d be millions of students for
prospects, every year!”
"And college students are only s small
part of Uie market,” Carter pointed out
“Everybody would like to know more than
they do. Everybody would like to know
higher mathematics or Latin or architectura
or a hundred other subjects. They don’t
learn them because it takes too much time
and work to study them. But if they can just
buy them?"
"Why, there's no limit to the mtirket!” I
said. "How many different subjects could
you pour Into a guy’s brain with the thing?”
Carter explained that there was a limit to
112 THRnJJNG WONDER STORIES
that "He potential neural paths in each
brain are limited In number. We found that
the averaj^e person has a neural index that
will allow him to absorb the equivalent of a
Ph.D. education from the tapes, but not much
more.”
He added quickly;
"But there’d be a chance for repeat busi-
ness even so. The scanner can erase this
new-found knowledge from the brain, by
using a neutratiring electronic impulse Then
the student can learn entirely new subjects. "
Right then and there. I taw my big oppor-
tunity and I grabbed iL
“You can count me In!" I told him. "But
mind. If I put up the dough for the eppenitus,
I get one-third Interest."
"One-third?” said Carter, kind of puatied.
"Sure, one-third for me. a third lor you,
and a third for Doc Kindler,” I reminded
him.
"Oh. certainly." Carter said hastily. “I'll
put Doctor Klndler's share in trust for him.
Rut you understand we'd better not uae Ida
name at all in developing this. It would
prejudice people if they learned ihat the
co-inventor of the method ia now a mental
wreck."
Next day, without telling Helen. I drew out
our thirty thou.^and and Carter snd 1 signed
the partnership papers.
He'd kepi Doc Klndler's name out. as he
said- And he’d decided to call our firm the
“Electro-Education Company.”
Carter rented a .small hnilding up In the
Bronx, and there we put up the apparatus
that he assembled from (he stuff I bought.
"Hnw about those learning-tapes. Carter?"
I asked him at the end of the week. "We've
got to be able to sell people more than just
French.”
He grinned at me. "I've got s lot of tapes
on every .lubject, all ready. You see, some
of the best scientists and scholars In the
world are on Gotham University’s faculty.
Under pretext of X-raying their brains,
1 uaed the scanner to make tapes of e%‘ery-
thing they know."
That kind of shocked me. "It sounds like
Stealing their knowledge, without them sus-
pecting it. I don’t want anything like that."
"Stealing?" Carter answered quickly.
"Why, of course not! We'll pay them a fat
royalty every time we use the tapes, of
course."
We tried (he tapes out on each other.
They worked fine. I went home that night.
bursting with a dozen profaoors’ knowledge.
TTELEN had her brother Harry and his
* wife for dinner that night. Harry has
always snooted me, on account Tm an elec-
trician while he went to college and works in
an oCBcc.
Tonight. I was loaded for bear when he
started making one of his highbrow cracks
to show oft. It was a crack about astronomy.
"Harry, you're a million miles oft base,”
I told him. “The Riemannian conception of
space you're talking about ia a dead pigeon.
It's been proved mathematically — ” and here
I went into the equations
Helen and Harry and his wife all looked at
me bug-eyed. 1 kind of enjoyed it, and 1
carried on from there.
I delved into ancient history, gave some
chatty remarks on modem biophysical theo-
ry. and then compared s Sanskrit drama with
an old Greek tragedy by quoting yards of
each in the original.
"Where in the name of all that’s holy did
you pick up all that, Pete?" gesped Harry.
I just laughed lightly. "Oh, I’m not one to
brag about my learning. I kind of like to
keep my lamp hid undemesth a bushel.”
"I notice that your grammar ia still hidden
under a bushel** Helen, like a wife doea,
put in.
That dashed me a little. I’d forgotten that
my grammar still wasn’t so hot We hadn’t
had any tape on elementary English Gram-
That night after the others went, I told
Helen the whole story and how our money
was now Invested In the Electro-Education
Company.
She hit the sky. I had been trapped by a
swindler, I was an idiot, and we were going
to die in the pocrrhoiise. Next momlBg she
went with me to give Carter what-for and
demand our money back.
Carter handled her beautifully. He in-
veigled her to put on the learning-cap, and
then shot French. Music. Art and a lot of
other stuff into her. From then on, Helen
was enthuidastle.
So next week, we hung out a sign and
advertised in the newspapers. Carter had
written the ad. and it was a good one.
“Do you want to know more?" it asked.
"Do you yearn to learn? But are yon re-
pelled by the dreary prospect of months and
years of study?
"Eleotro-Sducatioa la the anawerl Studj%
THE KNOWLEDCB MACHINE 113
clMWOom*, •choole, are sow obsolata. Wa
guarantaa to bastow on you In a faw bouia
anough hi^er education to pas* any uniaar-
■ity’a graduation examinationa.”
Naxt morning we found a half-dozen prM-
pacts waiting to get into our Electro-Educa-
tion shop. Only it turned out they ware all
reporters who had come to write funny places
about our project
Carter waa amart Ha didn’t get mad, he
juat kidded them along and got one of them
to try a sample course. Then he shot a full
course of Hl^ier Accounting Into that chap.
It aaims thet that reporter was a guy who
never had been able to add two and two. ha
had such a blind spot for arithmetic. Whan
ha got up and realized how much he knew,
he let out a yeU.
Ihe other newshawks accused him of
faking, at ftrat But the argument Induced
some of the others to try it. Carter gave
them Chinese. Nuclear Physics, anything
they asked.
That night Electro-Education hit the front
pages of the new^pert with a bang! &me
of the artlelaa still claimed it was a fake, but
a lot of the writers swore It worked. The re-
sult wes that w« bad a crowd around our BE
4)^op next day.
Most of them were just curious, but there
were a few with mon^ enough and curi-
osity enough to try a few tapes. When they
went out and told the crowd about It, others
started uemlng in.
Being near Gotham Unlver^ty, in two
days we were handling a crowd of studenta
so big they lined up for blocks. They came
in with their money clutched in their hot
little hands, and they went out crammed with
every bit of knowlHge their own professors
had.
Ilieti after three days, the Better Busi-
ness Bureau, the District Attorney's office,
and the police all came down on us.
"This thing la a barefaced swindle of some
kind and I shall see thet these two men get
prison for it,” the DA. announced.
Carter had been expecting just that, and
had a lawyer all ready when the preliminary
hearing was held.
He brought Jn our witnesses — joyful col-
lege studente who had quit going to olasees
altogether because they were dead sure of
-passing anyway.
Then Carter sprung his clincher.
"Your Honor," he said to the judge, "the
courtroom janitor has agreed for a consider-
ation to let me demonstrate Electro-Educa-
tion OQ him. Is the court agreeable?"
nrVTE court was agreeable. So right there
M la the courtroom. Carter set up our EB
apparatus and used it on the janitor.
This janitor was a big fatbeaded old guy
they ceiled "Puddiagbead,” on account ev-
eryone around court knew how dumb he was.
Well, Carter shot all our law courses into
him. He gave him not only Civil Law, Crim-
inal Law, Corporation Law and Theory of
Jurisprudence, he also gave him graduate
courses in such fancy stuff as the Justinian
Code and Medieval Ecclesiastical Law.
When It was over, and it took little more
than ah hour, old Puddingheed got up and
talked. He not only proved that he knew
everything now about the law— ^ proved
that the judge himeelf was woefully ignorant
about a lot of It.
"Electro-Education is obviously ail It
claims to be.” said the judge quickly, to
stop this painful expose. "Case dismissed."
The courtroom exploded with excltemeni
Reporters crowded wildly around Carter. 1
found the judge himself plucking my arm.
"Mr. Purdy, in confidence, could you give
me those courses too?" the judge asked
timidly
Overnight, Electro-Education became the
sensation of the country. It was like a bomb
going off.
I'll admit that It sort of floored me. Tm a
modest kind of a guy. I'd figured on profits,
on maybe even a chalh of education-sbops
some day. but I hadn't figured on what ^
rapidly became.
It didn't grow — it exploded. Within a
month, Cartar had branches started or under
way In avery big city In the cotmtiy. He’d
bought up a factory to turn out the EE
apparatus. We traln^ our own operators. It
was simple, since we just ran an EB tape
to teach them.
Our advertising plastered the newspapers,
the billboards, ths radio. Wa made the
whole country EE conscious, overnight Om
of our best ads was;
WBT 00 TO cotxaoi roB Ktrowixooa?
Would You Drlvs a Horse and Buggy
To Work?
an SMAKT THS MODSmt watI
And there was a big billboard picture that
showed a guy silting with one of our EB caps
on his head. It advised:
114
THROXING WONDER STORIES
bon't 81 ovMB, cmm!
Put On Your LeaminK-Cap Today!
For the classier trade, the advertising men
had worfced out displays that showed a dumb
cluck cringing in the middle of a lot of bril-
liant-looking conversationalists.
"Do you envy your friends when they
discuss learned subjects?" the ad aakad.
"Why be inferior? EE wUl make a new man
ef you mentally.”
They poured Into our EE shope. They
came In such droves that the police had to
establish lines at eveiy abop.
Carter and 1 bad big offices down in the
Monarch State Building, by now. My work
wasn’t bard— 1 arrived at eleven each morn-
ing. smoked a cigar, and then want to lunch
for a few hours. The afternoon was not quite
BO tough.
But Carter really worked. I never saw a
guy with so much ambition. It kind of scared
me, the way he kept EE mushrooming out
bigger and bigger each day.
The universities and colleges had gone
nuts. They ,tried first to suppress us but
they couldn't They forbade their professors
to sell us knowledge-tapes. But we offered
such big money that the professors did let
US put their stuff on tapes, on the sly.
So the univ'ersities just gave up and closad
their doors, all exc^t a few bitter-enders.
Then It was the turn of the high schools
end the public schools.
Senators got up in the State Legislatures
and demanded a new educational system.
“Why should we support a vast, expand ve.
outmoded achool-system when EE can give
every child better schooling at a fraction ef
the cost?” the}' asked.
The tearherB all fought that, of course.
But what chance did they have? The tax-
payers didn’t went to keep up the schools.
The parents didn’t want to. when their kids
could learn it all so easy by EE. And the
kids themselves sure were wholehearted for
EE from the start.
The result was that the State set up, in-
stead of sctioola. EIE dispensaries In which
crui own operators gave the kids their stuff.
Every kid had to go to school — one hour a
year. He got his year's work shot into him
by tape, and ihal was that. And the State
paid us a set fee for every pupil.
Money? It came in by tons, by carloads.
All over the country, all over most of the
world. EE was replacing the schools and
colleges. And still Carter wasn't satlaflad.
"What we have got to avoid Is Mturstico
of the market. Pete,” he told me. "As toon
as everyone is full of knowledge, they will
quit buying education.”
"Well, there will still be the new genera-
tion of students each year and that brings
in a big, steady profit,'' I said.
"That's not enough,” he said in his deter-
mined way. "What we need Is repeat busl-
nesw, Ilk* the movie industry gets. I'll work
And he did He got big new adx'enJaing
esnipaigns planned, that kept the public
needled by successive waves of advertising.
F or a while, we plugged science. A man
couldn't understand the world unless
he was full of science. A woman should be
ashamed to meet her bridge-club tf she
couldn’t discuss higher physics or colloid
(diemlstry.
It wore people down, all right. A lot of
them came in and had us erase other stuff
and fUl them chock-full of science.
When a man reached his neural capacity
we had to erase to put new knowledge in, of
course. We'd hsd a few sad experiences with
guys who wanted to know absolutely every-
thing and who went batty from too much
EE. To avoid trouble with the law. our
operators were strict od that now.
When our sale of science-subjects began
to fall off, we switched our advertising to
concentrate on art We made expert knowl-
edge of art all the rage Sure enough, people
came In by thousands to have (heir science
knowledge erased so they could take on a
cargo of art
Carter had worked out advertising that
made young people good repeat ctistomers,
too. If they didn't feel satisfied in their pro-
fessions, why not try a new one?
Lots of young lawyers, for instance, would
decide they'd rather be doctors. They’d sim-
ply come in and have their legal knowle^e
erased, take on a full course of medical sub-
jects. and hang out a shingle. Maybe two
weeks later they’d be back, wanting now
to try engineering.
Me. 1 was on top of the world, literally.
I lived In the highest and biggest penthouse
in town. And Helen was in the clouds,
mainly on account of our new baby boy who
had been bom a year after we started EE and
who was now husky and thriving,
'‘And little Perelval is going to be proud
of his father when he attains maturity,” I
THE KNOWLEDGE MACHINE
told Helen. “Not only because of my wealth,
but because of my erudition.”
I really talked like that, by then, for Helen
had uuJaled un me taking a full course in
English Grammar soon after we started bus-
iness. 1 had also taken all the other advanced
EE courses my brain would hold, so that in
those days there were few wiser fu>'S than
me in the world.
"Yea, dear, it is wonderful to know that
Pcrclval can be proud of his parents when
he grows up.” Helen said happily-
. Well, that's all you ever know about the
fufuie, For It was the very next monung
that the whole thing busted.
It busied when an old guy who looked
vaguely professorial came crowding into my
office in spite of my four secretaries.
"Are you Peter Purdy, the vice-president
of Electro-Education Company?” he ashed
me.
“Yes, yea, but if you have a knowledge-
record to sell you should take It to our
Knowledge Purchajang Agent." I told him.
“I do not handle details like that,”
He just stood and stared at me and then
all of a sudden he let out a yell.
“The electrician!” he yelled, pointing at me
wildly.
Suddenly' I recognized the old boy. and I
got my feet down off the desk and got out of
my chair,
“Dr. Kindler!” I said, all surpriaed.
It was him, all right — Carter's colleague
that had been in a sanitarium all this time
being a acbizophreniac. But he didn't look
out of bis bead now, at all. He just looked
mad.
"Doctor. I’m overjoyed to see you.” 1 said.
"And 90 will Carter be. We bad no Idea you
were cured—”
Doc Kindler interrupted me by shouting
at me every dirty name a arientlst could
think of.
“You blind fools, to turn my diaoove i y
loose on the world without knowbpc nmra
about it! You don't know what you may
have done!”
Then he shouted even louder:
“Police!”
I hate to tell what followed. When Carter
tame in and saw the old dec, he turned a
sickly color and started to scram. But the
police were already arriving, and then the
whole thing busted wide open.
No need to give you the \^ol* hitter story.
It's bad publicity enough, and enough people
have called me a dope. 1 suppose at that it’s
better than to be convicted of theft, like
Carter.
Yeah, Carter had just deliberately stolen
the old doc’s invention and hadn’t helped
invent it at all. like he told me. He'd figured
Doc Kindler was awav in the sanitarium for
life, not guessing that shock-therapy would
finally succeed in restoring the old doc's
mlnd-
I don't blame the old doc for blowing up
the way he did when he esme back and
found out. nor for the names ho called me
In court I'd rather be celled "a stupid
stooge" than a thief, any day.
Sura, they took the penthouse and (he
big bank-account and everything else away
from me. I was lucky that they gave me
hack my oi4girval thirty tbouaartd. Doc Kind-
ler had relnied enough to me to stipulate
that, when he turned all rights in EE over
to the Government
^L70U know what the finit thing was that
H I did when I got out nf court that day?
I went into the nearest EE shop and had
them erase every course I had. even my
grammar.
And I did it because I was worried. 1 was
worried by what Doc Kindler Iwd said that
day in the courtroom.
‘‘My crooked assistant and thia dolt Purdy
whom he deceived didn’t realize all they
were doing when they exploited tny discov-
ery!" Kindler said. "When I collapsed, my
experiments with Electi-o-£ducation were
not yet complete.
"t had discovered that the mimuc elec-
tronic impulses used in Electm-Erincalion
have a permanmt effect on the germ-plasm
as well a.s the soma, but hadn't yet found out
what the effect is.”
“Will you state your meaning In less tech-
nical terms, doctor?" the judge naked.
Kind!<-r*s voice wa* grave. “I mean that
the EE impulses have a powerful mutational
effect on the genes that control the brain-
developinent of the unborn child."
I got worried.
“Is my little boy going to be dotty because
Helen and I took a lot of EE before he was
bom?” I asked him.
"That, I can't say yet," Kindler said grim-
ly. “I was trying to determine the nature
of the effect whoi I collapsed, and you let
Carter talk you into appropriating my work.”
That was what scai^ me into having all
THRir.MXG WONBER STORIES
my EE erased before I went home that night
And Helen threw a fit when she heard about
it
“Now don’t get hysteHcal," I begged. “The
doc said he didn’t know what the effect on
Percival would be. It might not be so bad.’’
“But you and I were almost the first people
(o take EE, and whatever's going to happen
to people’s babies because of it will happen
first to Percival!” she sobbed.
We went in and hung over hU crib. I
couldn’t see a thiitg wrong with him and I
said 80. He was as fat bealthy-kiokiiig a
yosr-old baby a* you'd want to see, as he
lay there looking up at us.
“Yes, but what about his mind?" Helen
sobbed. “He should be trying to talk by now,
but he hasn’t said a word.’’
“Maybe I could get him to talk, if I worked
bard enough with Kim,” 1 said desperately.
I chucked Percival under the chin. "Say
mama, Percival! Kueky, IcticJiy— say mama!”
Percival op«si«;d his mouth and spoke. He
Spoke in a rather wobbly and shrill little
voice.
‘1 presume. Father,” he said, “ttiat the
encfiuraging sounds you are directing at me
are onomatoporic In ori^n and are designed
to stimulate the faculty of Imitation. Never-
theless, I must beg you not to continue mak-
ing such utterances.”
Helen and I gaped at each other. “He
talked!” I choked out. “He talked like a
profeasor! You heard hlml”
Helen stared, wide-eyed. “But be never
mid a word before— not a word!”
Percival appeared to be bored. “Really,
you could hardly expect me to join in the
sort of unlntelllgeiU conversation that goes
on in this hou.se!”
Yeah, that was the effect of EE’s electronic
impulses on the unborn. Every EE course
that Helen and I had ever taken was in Per-
cival's brain when he was born! The fact
that we’d had our own knowledge erased
hadn’t affected him in the least
And I was going to have a son that would
look up to me. That Is a laugh. Our Perci-
val loves hia parents, but we will never
see the day when we know half as much
as be did when he was bom!
It was the same with all the other kids
bom after EE, of course. Every last one of
them came into the world equipped with a
full cargo of knowledge.
You know how it’s changed things. They
had to cut the voting and office-holding age
to zero, of course.
We couldn't restrict office to adults, wiien
our own kids were ten times smarter than
we were.
Half of Congress is under ten years old
these days, and the big offices are mostly
filled with kid geniuses. I hear there’s a
twelve-3rear old out in California that they're
grooming for President
What gets me. though, is this:
These kids of ours still keep piling new
knowledge into thrir brains with EE. Now,
twenty or thirty years from now, what are
their kids going to be like? I do soma won-
dering about that
HOW DEEP IS THE COSMOCEAN?
R ecent instrument recordings made from V-3 rockets indiate th»t the peek intensity nl cosmic radiation
i» (uimd about 50 miles above earth aud letnsias mote oc less coiisiam lu iKighu of al Uiut 100 miles, a*
feiglvu such recordings have been made.
However, according to Dt. Donald H. Memel of Harvard College Observatoiy, there may be a detinite cciU
iag upon cosmic ray intensity, alrhnugh this ceiling will be an extremely hijdr one. It is his theory that the rays
me created from local clouifs of ions in space wiUiin "a few million'' miles of Terra.
Tbs socaLIed sbowen of cusmic rays are caused. Dr. Meozel believes, by long-wave tadtatitms from the sun.
These rsd,atinns may enogiae the ions a the extent of 100.000.000,009 volts, coming m groups tatbet than to
•wady ptoeesaion aod, at ibeic peak, causing saefa distutbaneet as radio static on Eaito.
Rick«y. th( mucol. Kid cgrliinly «n>to(l««
SPACl-CAN
Ky MtKFAY LEISSTEH
A zoutine visif to Ganymede disclosed a deadly Maziian
conspiracy — and Lieutenant /oe Peabody was on a spot!
W HEN the W«n*Wp Inndcd on proceed to Genymede, land in 10* north latl-
Ganymede, it was on one of those lude and 10“ west of the zero longitude echo-
errands that are handed over to beacon, and contact a Ganymedian chief
destroyer-skippers, commanding the tin-cans called Yloop.
of the space-Seet, because nobody with He wss to deliver to that Ganymedian chief
silver braid wants to do them. Lieutenant one swamp-car. assure him that Earth Gov-
Joe Peabody had been officially directed to ernmexit was very happy to give him the
117
118 THRIU.ING WONDER STORIES
pre<''!.! hr b»d requested, and then make
what efforts wecoed wise to promote cordial
raUtl >nf. Then he was to return to base.
It was Just the sort of job that anybody
with silver braid would wish off on some-
body of lower rank. The Witiahtp carried
two officers, ten men, and one dog. The dog
was Rick^*, the official mascot of the ship
and an sntmal of some reputation. He’d
had more and taller tales told about turn by
the crew than less imaginative men could in-
vent for their ship's mascots.
Such as the story that when the Winshfp
was based on Luna, every time she ceme back
to port there were seven girl-dogs and a
Venusiau vroom-cat waiting at the space-
yard gate when Rickey sauntered out on his
first liberty.
The WiiiBhip’a armament consisted of
metcor-rept»llerK, pressure-fused signal-
fiares, and a pop-gun of no conceivable use
out of atmosphere. In combat — If war did
come with Mars — her function would be to
scout ahead of the Earth battleSeet and try
to get off a warning of contact before she was
smashed by a guided miaaile. In peacetime,
she ran errands not desired by anybody else
and acted, as one of the gufnea-plgs for the
technical brass.
At the moment she was still choked up In-
side with the three-foot lead-cadmlum
sheathing — put on in three-inch plates — ap-
plied to her fuel tanks -when she was sent on
a long and purposeless cruise to test the effi-
ciency of pre-hombarded and therefore ra-
dioactive fuel. The fuel wasn’t efficleiil at all.
Dick Harkness, her second in command, still
swore at that sheathing regularly.
F. SWORE again as the little chip settled
down through the misty Ganymedlan
atmosphere. • The ground below, as seen
through the snooperscope, was utterly fea-
tureless save for some hundreds of thousands
of identical clumps of gannygrass. That was
Ganymede — gannygrass and swamp.
“Remember the recruiting po.ster.s we saw,
last time on EariJt?’’ growled I^ck Harkness
to Joe. “ 'Deep Space is calling you! Ride a
Comet and see the Worlds!’ There oughta be
a law! Look below! Who wants to see this?”
Joe Peabody watched his instruments,
scratching Richey’s head absently. He'd
picked out a patch of ^nnygrass to land on,
and the snakeye corrected course if the little
ship swerved by a halrsbreadlh, Bui he
watched, anyway.
“Things could be worse,” he said, 'They ve
got to recruit spacemen aomeliow. If glamor-
po.sters make ’em join up, why not?”
“Glamor!" said Dick. “Look below! They
ought to put a Ganymedian on the recruitmg
board. He'd fix thoaa posters! Be a Destroyer
Spaceman! Spend your time running er-
rands! ^^t Ganym^e and See the Swamps!
Learn to Salute!' That's the way a Gany-
mediao would make the posters read!”
The Winship swung ever so slightly and
settled toward the chosen grass patch. Joe
nodded in natiqfnctinn. Dick Harkness grum-
bled again.
“Look at the doggone place! Venus Is bad
enough, with an aerosol for an atmosphere,
and Mercury is worse! But at least the na-
tives are human, after a fashion! Shut your
eyes and listen to a Mercurian trying to bar-
gain you out of your back teeth and you feel
almost chummy. Hold your nose and watch
a Venua-girl dance and you almost get senti-
mental! But these Genj-medians. with the
way they — ”
"Yeah,” said Joe. He pushed the landing-
cushion button. There was a tiny imp«ct. and
an infinitesimal movement in the gannygrass
began directly below them. The bending
spread out like a wave.
“Have to warn the crew again. Dick. Tell
’em to remember all over again that Gany-
medians talk like pa>’maslers figure. Specific.
Exact. They don’t understand exaggeration
and they don't understand jokes. If you tell
them something that isn't literally true, they
think you’re
“They’re not human.” said Dick gloomily.
“They never He and they make you mad.
Huh! They send word by %ace-radlo to a
passing freighter that this chief Yloon wnnt.s
a swamp-car. Then they wait for It Wc-'ll de-
liver it and they'll look at H and 'Yes.
This it.’ Or else they'll h •>•, This not right’
And that’s all! Then theyTl '.■■> off with the
swan^-car.”
The Wtnskip bung low. now, barely xbove
the thirty-foot stalks of gannysrass. A Gany-
median peered up. bracing himself against
the landing-cushion field, wluch transferred
the weight of the ship to the ground below
and very neatly contracted as the little ship
descended.
“True enough,” admitted Joe. “but brass
says we must cultivate cordial relations. Tip
off the hands, Dick. Well touch, now."
Gannygrass stems sprang up alongside the
ship’s ports as the landing-cushion field con-
SPACE-
And stayed pointed straight down.
The descending motion ceased without a jar.
The Wtitehip rested on the yielding, matted
roots which were the soil of Ganymede where
it wasn't swamp. Joe flicked switches and the
ship was grounded.
"We won’t be here long." he observed,
““nieyll come for the swamp>car and they
don't go In for the amenities, so well be off
again pretty soon. You tip the hands about
h^ to talk while I remember not to smile
when I try to act pleasant. To lh«n, a smile
is an expression of rage j«ist before it turns
to murder.”
He put on a light atmosphere'suit and went
out the lock.
T here were a good many Ganymedians
on hand. From overhead, the innumera-
ble dumps of grass had seemed without life.
Gannygrass grew thirty feet high in semi-
floating islands that were roughly two hun-
dred feet across. In between the clumps was
swamp. The Ganymedians lived in what
amounted to burrows in their floating islands,
and progressed front one crass pst^ to an-
other In queer, skitteriac bops startlingly
like the running steps of a heavy bird just
about to lake off upwind.
They had a civilization of a o r ta , but no-
body could gather more than minor informa-
tion about It. Questioned, they either a«i-
sweved exactly and literally, or else lc» w d
the questioner. They had no manner* at all
by earth standards, and their otorak were twt
matters of Interest to anybody who had ever
seen a Gonymedian female.
Ckdinarily there would be one family g ro u p
to a grass-clump, and one grus-ciump to a
family group. Here, though, there were very
many on hand as Joe went out the lock. Their
mimbere increased momently. FV«m os erbead
Ibey had been nearly inviaibk but they must
have begun to move toward the Wmship’s
landing-place as soon as it could be Identi-
fled. Joe saw at least a dozen westring the
belts of swamp-bear claws which were signs
of cbiefhood.
He remembered not to smile politely.
‘Yloop?" he asked.
One of the bloated figures moved. The
others, os alwayf. cither stared with opaque
blank eyes or paid no attention whatever to
ship or skipper, even though they’d come to
eee It.
"Yloop. me,” said the bloated figure.
“Tour swamp-car,” Joe told him, unsnil-
-CAN 119
ing, **is In the ship. We will get it out very
soon. It U fueled for — ” He paused, calcu-
lated. and said carefully. “ — it is fueled for
half a year of Ganymede.”
Yloop listened. He made no reply. Me
offered no expression of gratitude nor com-
mitted any of the small h>'pocricie5 which
make human contacts endurable. Sam found
himself frowning Irritably. Ganymedians got
under a human’i. skin.
Another bloated figure stirred.
"Me Ychan.^’ said the lipless mouth.
"I suppose,” said Joe ironically, “you want
a swamp-car too?”
“No," said Yehan tonelessly. By the double
belt of swamp-bear claws about his middle,
he was high cHef. “Yloop want swamp-car.
Not Yehan. Yclttn*wanl talk.”
Joe’s eyebrows lifted. Almost he was
tempted U> he sarcastic. Talk was a novelty.
But —
"Talk.” he said flatly.
Behind him, the lock opened again. Dick
Harkness and two of the crew came out in
atmosphere-suits. With them came Rickey,
the ship's mascot, in the tiny, canine space-
auk which was the result of infinite labor in
the errw’t quarters during long hours of
standby duty.
“Just for the beck of it. Joe." said Dick,
grinnins. “the hands decided to send Rickey
to see what hell do when, he sees a ganny-
giass stalk that he'll take for a tree. The
trick is he's in his space-suit and can't sniff
at it*
"Wipe off that grin!” snapped Joe. “Take
the dog back! I told you no jokes!”
Dick Harkness’ face went blank. "I for-
got! Sony. Joe!”
He herded the crewmen back Into the lock.
But they still grinned. Yehan stared at them
with exprassionless eyes.
"Men mad.” be said. “Why?”
Joe wanted to deny it, but a smile or a grin
was to Ganymedians an expression of the
ultimate in fury, — and If you said something
they did not believe, diey though you lunatic
A very literal-minded folk, these people of
Ganymede.
“Oh — dog bad." said Joe curtly. "Kill four
men. You talk.”
He waited. Yehan stared as blankly as be-
fore.
“1 talk.” he said without expre^ion. “You
think you leave Ganymede. Mariians say no.
1 say maybe."
Joe Peabody blinked. Then be sUSened.
120 TUBIU.TNG WONDER STORIES
"Sit," he Mid shortly.
A GREAT curved plate in the ship’s side
opened. The crew of the W<nship was
opening the destroyer's store-hatch to roll
out the swamp-car. Ychan squatted on the
ground, where he looked like a wetly glisten-
ing anthill. Other Ganymedians moved to
watch the swamp-car roll out
They would watch Yloop climh into H and
finger its controb and then — amaaingly, the
Ganymedians had a knack for the machinery
their minds found logical hut seme literal
quality kept them from making — begin its
operation with practically the skill of a hu-'
man who had been carefully instructed In Its
u*e^
Joe also squatted, for formal conversatiem.
He frowned, which was courtesy here, inso-
far as there was any courtesy at alL It was
at least a sign of attention which they recog-
nized.
''Talk,” said Joe.
The Ganymedian spoke deliberately and
without potion. Like his fellows, he was
cold-blooded in all his ways. He had very
few words. He used those in their baldest
sense. But he knew what he wanted to say.
In five minutes Joe had the complete picture.
He felt a little cold chill running down his
backbone.
The swamp-car came out of the ship, w'ith
its huge, iiiflaled tires that were wheels and
floats in one. There was a seat modified for
non-human use, A truck body and a tiny
motoi’ which would drive the unwieldy thing
at twenty miles an hour through swamp and
thirty or better on solid ground.
Yloop got into it He tried it. He drove It
experimentally on the relatively hard grass-
root soil, drove it into the swamp, and made
a single circuit of the gannygrass clump.
Then he stopped and beckoned. His mate
waddled to the edge of the island and ddt-
•ered out to It over the mud. Three of the
incredible Ganymedian young skittered after
her. They climbed aboard. Woop started the
swamp-car again and drove away. He had
asked for it He had gotten it He went off
witii It. That was that.
Then Joe stood up. “I hear,” he said un-
graciously. “I think. I talk later.”
He turned hU back on Ychan and walked
into the reopened airlock. His expression was
one concentrated scowl. He knew it, but he
knew that to Ychan that expression meant
■knply tranquil and untroubled meditation.
For Joe to have conveyed his actual emo-
tions to the Ganymedian, he would have had
to grin until his throat split.
He was pacing up an down the control-
room of the WinAip, deliberately coddling
his fury to combat the cold chills that wanted
to play tag up and down his spine, when
Dick Uarkness came in again. Rickey fol-
lowed him sedately, at a sort of regulation
distance.
The crew, of course, swore that Rickey
knew Fleet regulations as well as an admiral,
and that when he’d been caught with a lady
Pomeranian visiting him on board, he'd con-
fined himself to quarters for six weeks to the
day. How he looked warily at Joe.
“I'm .sorry, Joe.” said Dick Harknett con-
tritely. “I went and warned the hands about
grinning where Ganymedians could see them.
But they were making bets on what Rickey'd
do In a space-suit and unable to sniff, when
he saw what he’d take for trees. It was too
good a joke to resist. Ilow'd you explain the
grins? And shall I report our landing and
delivery of the swamp-car?”
"1 said,” Joe told him bitterly, “that we
were mad beceuse Rickey’d killed four men.
And you do not use (he space-radio unless
you want to commit suicide!"
Dick Harkness stared. “What — ”
''Ganymedians.” .said Joe bitterly, "don’t
lie. They don’t understand lying. Ychan jusi
told me well be blown to bila if we use uur
space-phone or try to leave Ganymede."
"What’s that? Who’s going to try to stop
“Martian<!," said Joe with exquisite bitter-
ness. “Did you ever hear that there Is some I
slight friction between the Martlsn govern- I
raent and that of Earth? Did you ever hear j
that if the Martians thought they had one
percent edge over fifty of wiping us out and
taking over the solar system they'd try it?
Did you ever hear (hat only the technital
superiority of Earth science has held off a war
this far?"
R icky moved up beside Dick and sat
down. His tongue lolled out happily.
The Winship’s crew insisted that he'd had
Venusian lockjaw once, and now always kept
his mouth open to keep it from coming back.
"Sui~e Pve heard that!” Dick Harkness said.
"That's why there's so much research going
on all the time — why we’ve still got three
feet of lead plating around our tanks, too."
“The Martians,” said .Toe savagely, “also |
121
fleet before wo
SFACE-CAN
rebean-h. TTiey have made a gadget They
think it might he deHsve- They think it
might win e war for them. But they're cagey.
They want to try it out first. On us!"
I>ict Haikness looked blank. "But — blast
h! We can t fight hack to count’ We’d he a
sitting duck for a battle cruiser! We'd better
get In our report”
“Tliere’s a hfartian scout-cruiser over-
head. '' Joe told him. "It took off as we landed.
The gadget is on the ground here somewhere,
.trained on us. If the scout-cruiser picks up
the beginning of a space-radio message— and
h’s Il.tlening with all four ears— the scout
flashes word down and we go pouf!"
"But thafs nonsense!"
"Did you ever hear of catalysis?" askeil
Joe ironicaUy. “Did you ever hear nl ultra-
violet radiation acting as a catalyst to turn
carbon dioxide into sugar? Chlarophyl has to
be present but so Iras ultra-violet The Mar-
tians have found a wave-form or frequency
that acts like ultra-violet on drive-fuel. It
^mhesizes drive-fuel into energy. If they
turn it on us. our fuel will blow.**
"Either the Martians would uae it arw)
blush off their hands, or they’d never let us
know."
"There’s a Ganymedian at the trigger of
the gadget. There's a Ganymedien listening
to the space-radio. A Ganytncdian has to
give the fire-at-will signal, and a Ganyine-
dian has to pull the trigger. But when that
kaopens. we flv spart into little pieces. Gany-
medians don’t lie.”
Dick Harkness sal down on the settee at
the back of die control room. He didn't look
scared. He looked incredulous.
“But — why? They haven’t any grudge
sgainst us! They've r.olhir® to gain."
"They’ve coldblonded fish." Joe said furi-
ously. "and they can be on the winning side!
The Martians offer them incredible bribes!
Don’t you see? It’s like that Spanish civil
war the history books tell of. when the Ger-
mans tested out their weapons by helping
one side in the civlj war. without ri.diing
having anotoer first-class nation fight back!
"The Martian government won't risk a
war it isn't sure H will win. But it sees a
chance to make sure! If the Ganymedians
will keep their mouths shut, the Martians can
make a base here. With this nev. gadget they
can snipe our ships, ooe by one. If anything
gees wrong, the Martian government will say
It was a litUe group of earth-haters and
they're eo sorry! But if everything goes
right, theyll have half our
know what's what!"
Dick Harkness’ mouth opened and shut
"If we don’t get back," raged Joe, "Head-
quarlers will query by space-radio. The
Ganymedians will simply nnt atiswer. They
do that sort of thing. Headquarters will send
a ship here, it will disappear too, when its
fuel blows. They’ll send anuther and another.
When they start sending squadrons, either
the whole Martian Navy — armed with these
gadgets — will jump them, or there'll be «
ane^ attack on all our bases, all our fuel-
dumps will go— and what sood's a fleet with-
out fuel reserves and ba-«es?'’
“Then why warn us?" demanded Dick
Harknes.s.
“The Ganvmedians! Don't you see that
either? The Martians ccn'l do a thing with-
out their help. They’ve got to keep their
mouth* idiut! And tbcv’ve said they will keep
their mouths shut if the Martians will prove
they're going to win! So the Martians are
goine to prove it— on t»!''
Dick H*'Vne«*. hif feature* alack and be-
wildered <hook his bead.
"But — "
‘The Ganymedians are eold-hlooded. They
won't risk anything. They say that some-
thing might go wrong. A ship might get
away and warn our fleet But if the Mar-
tians can win even after 'we know what
thev’ve got. whv. then they’ll play. So thev’ve
told us whal the Martinrs have got. Thev
won’t let ns tt.se spsce-rad’o. or thev let go.
"But If we prove we can lick the Martians
after we’ve been warned, tbeyhl consider
we'll win. and thev*!! pl»v n-ith us. But
if the Martians Wow us at>— '' Then be added,
gritttog hl« teeth, "‘rhev’re -■rtill around be-
cause thev can iam our space. radio. If we
trv to send a renoef. or trs' to lift. 'bwU
duck and use the Mart<en gadget. They're
playing it safe all around!''
n 'CK HARKNESS looked dazed. "Biit—
but — *’ Then h« shook his heed as If to
clear it. "Logirs’ oeonle aren't thev? No
manners, no nMrals. no weak sport at all.
Not even nets' It sounds crazy, but they’ve
never been Irickv.”
Rickey pricked up his ears. Tliat sounded
like his name. Joe pared up and dnwn.
"They’re too darned literal to be tricky!"
Rickey was sure he heard his name. He
stood up, his tail wagging. He pawed at Joe's
foob Joe stopped shoi t. He stared down at
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
-Im ship's inascot. then spnlcp ^vevishly.
“But they won’t expect us to be tricky
either! Look, Dick! They saw you grinning
at Rickey and I told ’em he’d killed tour
men. With no sense of humor they aren’t
capable of understanding. They simply can’t
conceive of anything but coldbloodedness.
They haven’t any weaknesses, and that’s one
terible weakness! Now Usten!"
It was very, very simple. Less than an
hour after Ychan told him of his situation,
Joe Peabody went out of the airlock again
onto the yielding, tntermatted roots which
were the solid ground of Ganymede. Inside
the ship, Dick Harkness painstakingly tm>
ished die fitting of a pressure-fuse into a
small smoke-bomb made in the shape of a
padlock. And that was all.
Joe scowled, outside the air-lock, whldi to
the Ganymedlans meant tranquil and un-
troubled meditation. A Oanymedtan looked
at him blankly.
“Ten Tchan I talk.” said Joe curtly.
He squatted down. Only minutes later
Ychan waddled up and plumped down In a
heap that looked like a glistening ant-bllL
Joe spoke without preliminaries.
Because of Jhe utterly literal minds of
Ganymedlans, and their scorn for indirection
of any sort, it was necessary to phrase tilings
especially for their comprehension. Scowl-
ing. Joe talked in the monotonous tone and
idiom used for the strictly business like
conversation of Yohnn’a kind.
Earthmen, said Joe. were prepared against
the Martian weapon. He had passed his
time Inside the ship simply In setting up de-
tectors for the detonation-beam In case the
Martians were fools enough to try it K they
did, with Ganymedian assistance. Joe and
the Win.skip would prnxre to them how com-
pletely foolish ft wns. If the Martians were
foob enough to make war on Earth, they
would be wined out. And their friends. And
their friends!
Joe paused to let that sink in, Ychan had
listened without emotion. Now he said tone-
lesslv.
“How?"
Joe said shortly that If the Martians tried
to destroy the WiTiahip that he, Ychan, wotild
have personal experience of the method. But
he would expbln. The Earthmen had a weap-
on the Martians knew nothing about. It
destroyed all living things. It killed them
by turning them to vapor. Turned upon a
^tace-sbip, the Earth-weapon turned its
crew to smoke and vapor, and left the space-
ship unharmed. Turned upon a planet, the
Earth-weapem would make all its vegetaUon
explode, and all its people, and even the fish
in its swanks.
Ychan listened. "How?" he asked stolidly.
Joe answered scornfully that he would
demonstrate it — so that the Ganymedlans
would not make foob of themselves and be
wiped out. But be would have to take pre-
cautions to avoid undue destruction. If ha
pointed the weapon at the horizon, all living
thln^ to the horizon would flash into clouds
of vapor.
If he pointed it down to the ground, not
only all life immedbtely below it would burst
Into steam, but life on the other side of Gany-
mede would cease to exist over a brge area.
The Earth-ray would penetrate a planet and
destroy life on both sides simultaneously.
Ychan Ibtened vrith no trace of emotional
reaction.
"You show,” he Insisted.
Joe scowled more deeply still and ob-
served that for his forbearance in not de-
stroying all life for. say, a hundred miles all
around him. there would be a price. A smaQ
price. But when he had proved the Earth-
weapon he would make a demand.
"What?" asked Ychan fbUy.
Joe said negligently that he would ask for
the useless Martian gadget Earthmen, he
said untruthfully, had earlier modeb and had
been amused by it. But jtist In ease there
had l«en Improvements, he would trade a
local demonstration instead of a general one
fur the device. Just the device. He did not
care about the Martians.
Then he waited. .<tcowUne as deeply as
possible to show complete indifference. Ychan
made his derision.
“Yes," he said.
I T WAS a borgaSn and o treotv. b^uae
Ganymedlans did not lie. *niey used
words as mathematicians use figures. For
results.
“All right.” said Joe shortly, over hb
shoulder. “Get going. And you can grin.”
The outside microphone picked up hls
voice. The airlock opened It was full of the
lead-cadmium plates that had been put
around the fuel-tanks when radioactive fuel
had been tried on on experimental cruise.
There was barely room for the two crew-
members, in atmosphere-suits, who began to
unload it.
SPACE-CAN
“We nuke shield," said Joe curtly. “Stop
weapon here.*'
The men began to lay the slightly curved
leaden plates to cover a fairly large qMKe.
Ycfaan waddled over and felt one. It was
•olid metal, three inches thick and two feet
by four feet In stye
The men laid a floor twenty feet square.
They laid a second layer. Thm they began
to build a platfrom in the center, seemingly
solid, of plates stacked up for thickness.
They ntade a platform eight by twelve feet
and six feet high, using antigrav handlers to
lift the unwieldy pieces of metal. The air-
lock was filled agatn with the stuff for them
to use They used all that had been In the
ship.
Ganymedians arrived by scores and hun-
dreds. They watched with expressionless
eyes until they understood what the men
were doing. Then they lost Interest But they
oame back to attentiveness when the airlock
opened a third time and two grinning men
came out with atmosphere-suits on them-
selves, but a tiny canine space-suit on
Rickey. The dog’s suit was of hand-formed
elaMite and he was plainlr visible Inside it.
The grinning of the men. to the Oanvmedi-
nns, meant rage et the murder point And
Rickey was hopelesslv uncomfortable in his
space-suit. He loathed it He locked Implor-
'I'gly up at the men and KeVed cMit hU tongue,
.-nd grinned sheepiehlv. doe-f-«h(on— which
meant raee on his part too, to Ychsn and his
fellows Riekev’s snaee-*uii had been made
infinite care, hut he did not like It.
’"niis." said Joe. scowline “U dec Dor
had Killed tour men. He dies."
Hic humorlesa. factual men of the small
nlanel could not possihlv imacine anvone
having a pet animal And thev saw no reason
to douht the deadl-ness of a small animaL
Their own swarrm-bears were even smaller
than Rickey, hut thev were deadly.
The bloated fim>res regarded Rickey as he
was dragged to the elahoratelv constmeted
platform of lerd-cadminm nlates. It was
luckv that thev had heard onlv one imagina-
tive tale about him. If nnvhodv had told
them about the time when he allegedly
barked in space-code to wprn the skipper
when sneak-lhieves from another ship were
stealing beer from the Winship — /
The two members of the crew took Rickey
— their mascot — to the center of the leaden
platform. They fastened him there while he
squirmed and tried to lick their bands
through his glassite helmet. They padlocked
him m place. But the chain which held him
was rather queer.
"Ship go up ” said Joe briefly. “Use weap-
on. “nien come back for Martian thing. Or — ’’
He permitted himself a faint flicker of a
smile. Then he turned to Dick Harknesa.
“Take her up to a thousand feet and let
Vr go,” he CMnmanded- “Be sure to hit it
squarely. A miss would he bad! I wait here."
For him to stay on the groiuid was wisdom,
but he felt horribly lonely as his little ship
lifted and left him behind. If he stayed on
the ground, the Ganymedians would stay and
witness the demonstration of the Earth-
weapon. If he didn't stay, they might slip
away — and miss what they ought to see.
It was very simple and ver>- effective. The
Winahip rose to a thou*«nd feet or more and
hovered over the cadmium-lead platform.
Suddenly there was a faint, bluish glow be-
neath It Instantlv there was a billowing,
expanding cloud of smoke where Rickey had
been.
It cleared. Rickev was gone. Even his
ebain had vanished He was living matter, tn
a space-suit The Earth-weapon had been
trained upon him, after an elaborate shield
had been made to keep it from destroying all
life in a huge area on the far .side erf the
planet
He had. unquestionably, exploded. Joe saw
it He grinned And Ychan turned those
milky-gray opaqvie eyes of his on Joe. and
saw the expression which to him meant the
ultimate of satisfied rage as regarded the ani-
mal which had killed four men. A ripple
went over Yehan’s glistening hide.
"Earthmen.” said Ychan with finality,
"would .win war. You wait We bring Mar-
tian thing.”
THEN the Wmsklp took off from Gany.
mede, the lead-cadmium plates were
stored again. Joe would have abandoned
them for speed, but there was a reason for
retrieving them. Speed was called for. be-
cause he had a Martian gadget on board —
made with that finicky, uselessly detailed
artistry of all Martian objects — and it was
desirable to get it to base, fast for examina-
tion so counter-measures coviid be worked
out
But there was a reason for retrieving the
lead. too. After all. it would not have been
wise to abandon it and let the Canymediafts
take the olatform aoart If they found that in
124 TIUCILLING WUNDEK STORIES
its buiJdlnK a neat cavity had been left In its
center — that it had been covered by a slab
doctored to remain In place even under
Rickey's weight, but to tilt decidedly when a
meteor>repeller beam came on it — !
They might not work It out, but they might.
*nie meieor-repeUer beam, of course, had
set off Ihe preBsiire-Fu<te which made so im-
pressive a mass of smoke, hiding Rickey com-
pletely as he slid sqtiirmlng into the cry pt in
the platform when the beam came on.
It hadn’t been difficult to snuggle Rickey
back on board, though. The Ganymedians
drifted away. Joe suspected that they in-
tended to go over and watch whatever hap-
pened to the Martians with the fuel-explod-
ing device.
They would probably fight, and the Gany-
medians wojild probably be very firm, be-
cause they would not want the Earth- weapon
used against them.
Dick Ilarkness came into the control-room,
Rickey frisking about his feet.
“Cussed dogi” said Dick fondly, looking
down fit him. "He hates that space-auit of
his, though it protected him perfectly when
that smoke bomb went ofT."
“Mmmm,” said Joe.
“Do you think that Martian scout-ship will
try for us?” asked Dick hopefully.
“No chance,” said Joe. “They want to get
back with sews of our new weapon. Mar-
tian technical brass will go crazy trying to
figure it nuL"
“Huh!” .said Dick gloomily. “Nothing ever
happens on a space-can' Keadquarters will
hush-hush the story, too. What a life! And
those recruiting posters say *Deep Space is
Calling! Ride a Comet and See the Worlds!’
It’s a lie! There ought to be a law!”
Rickey eat down, his tongue lolling out. He
looked alertly up at Dick.
“Say!” said Dick. “The hands have got
their story worked out. They're going to
swear that Rickey subdued Gonymeda and
stopped an alliance with Mars. The high spot
in the story is where Riekcy saw a tree and
in his space-suit he couldn’t sniff at it, and
he got so mad that steam came out of his cars
and the Ganymedians thought he n»s a dog-
god and bowed down to him instead of help-
ing the Martians!”
The tTinship drove on through space on
the way back to base.
THE REACER SPEAKS
(Continutd from 7)
qualified persons, he eelected what he called
the “Himdred Great Books” and used them—
they ranged all the way from Homer to
Freud— as the basis of his curriculum.
His theory was that the etiident. with the
methods of the masters of human creative
and critical thought inculcated into his intel-
lect. would possess a sound knowledge of
how as well as what to diink when tackling a
new problem, thus to some degree achieving
Inoculation against the deadening qualities
of research.
The idea is currently being cairied further
by President Hutchins and Dr. Luther Adler
(“How to Read a Book") of the Universi^ of
Chicago in collaBorstion with the Encyclo-
pedia Brftannica. They have concentrated
upon great human ideas — vice, virtue. God,
the atom, the subconscious mind and the Dke
— of which they have numbered 102.
Despite such simplification, before they
conclude with the necessary documentation,
history, controversial thought and scientific
developments required, they may well have
*chiev^ such an appalling weight of needed
researdt that the idea of getting through all
of it may ov«yhelm even the talented
student. But it is a step in the right direction
— ^which Is the freeing of the currently over-
weighted hianan brain from the limitations of
specialization.
Perhaps we may have to go ail the way
back to Darius, the Persian emporer. who
had an army of a million men and knew each
of them by name. Some development in the
speed, comprehensiveness and retentiveness
of the human memory may be the only
answer.
Come what may. it is a problem worth
pondering!
OUR NEXT ISSUE
TI^OEL LOOMIS, whose IRON MEN and
CITY OF GLASS in STARTLING
STORIES, our companion magazine, are still
remembered favorably by those who read
them, starts things rolling in the August
issue of TWS with a highly unusual novel of
alien life entitled MR. ZYTZTZ GOES TO
MARS.
THE READER SPEARS 12S
Don’t uk u« hnu' to profWMrTvr^ Mr Zytrta
—we n««rl)r fractured our tonfue trying It
not to mention two back molars. Mr. Zytttz,
however, la one of aeverB] score of plant men,
the only form of life discovered on Mars
when the first expedition gets thei'e. He is
befriended by a young Space Cadet, Healey,
and the attachment between these two utter-
ly different forms of life with utterly dif-
ferent origins, becomes ultiioately one of the
epics of early space travel.
Despit prejudice, official harapering and
thousands of yards of red tape, Mr. Zytztz,
always willing, always amiable, fights in his
own quiet way to win a space pilotohip. And
when, at last, he does get his ship with the
aid ol Cadet now Admiral, Healey, his true
purpose at last becomes apparent.
It is a purpose as astonishing to Healey as
it was to us and will be to you. This story is
one of the finest in emotional appeal, in “feel”
of space travel and alien beings and in bril-
liant satire directed toward humanity as we
remember having read. A One fascinating
job!
Thanks to the new enlarged format TWS
offers not only the above novel but three
Do veiets . headed by CLIMATE— INCORPO-
RATED under the author's ae^ of Wesley
Long. This is the story of James Tennis,
young seienUst who. through a truly
astonishing device which brings next sum-
mer to this winter, manages to make it June
in January iu one of our northernmost
states.
Unfonunately. however, the governor’s
daughter falls in love with him and Teonis
soon finds himseif in a welter of political
skulduggery as the implications of bis inven-
tion become clear to the rivals of his fiancee’s
father.
The result is disaster, not only personal and
political but scientific, as more careless op-
portunists overdo things and bring almost
arctic catastrophe upcei the countryside
There ia lau^ter as well as drama and
amazing pseudo-scieotific ingenuity here in a
novelet on the lighter ride.
Those of you who unabashedly like space
opera ore going to get space opera In its moat
original form in the second novelet for our
August issue THE IONIAN CYCLE by Wil-
liam Teen, who is certrinly one of the newer
bright stars of science fiction
THR IONIAN CYCLE chronicles the story
of the First Deneb Expedition, which does not
quite get what it sets out for. What it does get
is a series of blood-curdling horrors on a
generally waterlogged planet which was not
the intended destination of the expedition.
However, its leading loeinbers ai e scien-
tists, including binlogbits and the like, and
ultimately they discover that what look like
horrors are something else indeed — some-
thing utterly novel in stf fas far as we know,
that is), which makes THE IONIAN CYCLE
outstanding among recent novelets recaved
here. It should provide a startling thesis for
the more thoughtful among you and plenty
of thrills for all.
Final novelet listed for August is
MEMORY by Theodore Sturgeon, s story m
which this veteran top-flighter among stf
authors utilizes all of his writing skill to
promote an ingaiious plot woven about one
of the most interesting developments in
pnctical science.
Against an interplanetary background of
industrial exploitation and high tension per-
sonal feuds, Sturgeoo has woven the story of
Jeremy Judd— a young man of enterprise
who has the wit to interpret a code message
left by his brother in a plastic object which
has a "nseroory'’ of its own under certain
eooditiona.
It’s a good yam. one of Sturgeon's recent
best, and should have you well up on the
edge of your collective chair.
There will be short storiei, /if course —
selected from a roster which includes Murray
Leinster, Ray Bradbury, George O. Smith
and Margaret St. CUir, all of them tops in
their various types of sacnee fiction. And.
of course, your Editor will be present m THE
READER SPEARS and the SCIENCE FIC-
TION BOOK REVIEW. August should be a
good month in our new and enlarged era.
LETTERS FROM READERS
M aybe we are getting young or some-
thing but the crop of letters this time
seems to us to be far above average both
intellectually and ciiticalJy. We are opening
with an excellent missive which should help
to finish the laying of a feud we seem to have
walked into with our eyes shut— namely the
Lovecraft controversy.
H. P. LOVECRAFT, GENTLEMAN
by Mrs. Muriel E Eddy
asuor. I've bees bcxicrcd ivua tequMis Cor mere in-
(enaaUOB about Howard Ptiuipi Levecratt Uk lata
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
reird yarm-^ hers go*g|
n h^. Il would, be averred'
looked like the old-fashioned gcatleman of cultured
preferred lu cell liUiiscift He once visited the oldest
church In Rhode Uland with Ur. Eddy and. while
th««. signed Ids i:tuue in Oie register — "H. P. Love-
eraft Kaqulre, Gentleman,"
Myhuwye — .• -
it uncle and
ProvMen— —
fpent hours at nl^t, leUdna tc
poring over musty volumes In u.. m ......
appeend in daylight — but alwari turned up around
the Witching Hour of twelve, uncle liked H.F.L. and
stay^ open until the wae smn' hours of morning, to
humor this then embryo writer. He once predlned
S et, with the yean. Lovecraft'i tame would mount.
n» rl^t^ he waal
typ^ a story— «na of the "tevlslbla type" variety.
Ineeer msds. It Is to bs reeretted that this typawrlcer
when some dlalntar-
apartmant aftn hli
td II not been sold to this unk^wn person, io whom
I have pictures of II. F. l^vecrth as a small tiiUd.
snd fatl
mar wa ascertain^ whei
during his boyhood, ond
tha yard in which HJ*.!.. used to play — when he was
not In, for he was not a rugged child. 1 hovo s photo
of his erandfatho' (who had Iwllllant dark ayea, a
Loeveraft chorecterislio) ond of his blrdmlooa as woU
as whldi ^e is bi^ed <nls body was
I feel ibfit memoriae of thli man are preolous In-
gretulsUng our cet when she preeaeted us "w3i 'sSS:
oral kittens— written Just as me would writs to a
human mother — because Lovecraft was noted for his
By the wav. my fevorita story In FEBRUARY TWS
Is: '^THB SHApI OJ THINOS'' by Ray Bradbiuy II Is
written In such a nanner that one wonders If — MAY-
BE — 11 coulOii'i be Uuel FuilosUc but truly taselnating
Stuff to ponder overt 1 enlmted all the storlei and I
loved the monstrous holiv spider (7) cm the covert
ril kew reading TWSI — 1!5 Pearl 51reet, Prooldence
7, RhMe Island-
A fine letter. Mrs. Eddy. HPL must have
been a fascinating person to have turning up
around the houEG. And thanks for the kindly
comment on the Februaty TWS — but that
“thing” on the cover was supposed to be a
giant, economy-sized house fly — albeit with
rather bloodshot eyes.
EYES FRONT TO REAR!
by Paul Cahendon
Dear Edltnrr As of a later date than Thaodore S . I
am bound to comravet on tha good Ihlngs that have
haprwned in TWS. That Is n bit M a panalva way to tay
It. for one can Imagine some care and beauUfuI souls
at ycarr office eettlnn together and decldlnp that this
shall be done, and that. In view of the accepUnoe of
*of heS?l ,
eu, hrit, J
.. d raOicr iiigoniously In a raised maecuUsa -
Than ihsre're the Interiors.
tieed to bo they had IhaL bargaln-pennanert look,
but this Issue you ve been to a better parlor where an
artlet whoee full name la InlSoled V.P. don the
honoci. So far Tve been somewhat cursory with my
Inspection of the stories, but a ounory Inspection of
tha Biyoe Walton tale proraltn us exiotly met qiul-
Ity by which TWS has Improved.
also, really, the new letter eee-
I hers that the personality of a
m^e anemles of half that many city editors (not
resllyl hut I've every now and than picked up a
atf muazina tu read ute occasional dIUIes.
And now I And myself wistful again, this ume to
write a fistful of then here now stf stories and have
thsm puWshed In a magazine where a pooim yolspt
Sarge oftan sounds like he's teetering on the edge of
being darofool uncommcrelal enou^ to allp a company
chxuc off to one Aeschylus for nm serial rights to
"Agamemnon."
'niat would be damfonllshness (as well es Involva
a t edenoe-flctloii devleea which I am grepared to
■we will he Invimfed) but It’s still positively won-
derful to eee the lads gethorlag for a Utecary t«a In
iho back room of TWS. Well, maybe I will send you
w^o^haa^c^e o'
Slim bang tinkle w
We’re beginning to feel as if we’re — if not
engaged — at least glamorous and use you-alJ-
know-tvliat. But at least. In your figurative
pinball machine, you didn’t light up the TILT
sign. And wa hope any copy you choose to
submit us runs up enough numbers to score
a win.
As for Aeschylus, pleese let us h^ve his
address. We're always In the market for new
authors, even ancient Greeks.
TIME MACHINEFOR TWS
by H. L Stapleton
Dear Sir; T
he 6A day c
h«<*7 A ilm.
You have been receiving a number of enquiries late-
ly from Englond tor coptet of itf maa> Sclanee Fan-
tasy PublleaUoiui. 16 Roekvile Road. Liverpool 14,
England, ploco subicHpuona to TWS and 3S ^olddn't
you have told t-tem that, edl) eo would you mind
including thalr addrees In the next TRS or TEV?
Thank you,
Mr. Alvin H. Brown In Februory'o TWB thlnka that
the October stoilss are either very good or horHd.
Those are my thoughts about your latest effort. Under
ths former ciaziiilcatlon comsa the novel, the two nov-
eles, Uie three abort elurles. TBS. 3FBII. and ilte cover
painting. All the remaining features come under the
lalter.— JO HnWeli: Sirret. Woepanul. Ifeuj Zeoliind.
As you are a New Zealander, Mr. Staple-
ton, we suppose w« would be qualified In re-
turning, la your case, to an old term of en-
dearing (?) used by the late Sarge Saturn —
to i«(it kiwi. Or do those wlngleia birds come
from somewhere else?
Thanks muchly for the address of the
British agency, which, as you see, we gladly
run. And thanks for that somewhat inverted
but extremely kind review of our February
Issue. By the way, are you any relation to
novelist-philosopher Olaf of approximately
the same name?
THE BEADDi SPEAKS
irr
WHAT FLAVOR SOUPSTONE?
by Joseph M. Wilson
Dtmi Sir:
DOupatone mines, and Oont went alocut- And after alL
wupatoiie 1 * almoat a* Intereittiu a ctumnodlti' aa
whost. even though It le only a mmaral. Some m my
frisndi aay II is a Ana thins aatan with w awad ot aad-
mill. Though I don't cars for It that way, I raatUy
enjoy It In me granular form, braised with ocMe aad
celery (I'd sey that the beat cr*^ for that wee • to
10 srli. althougb an ounce of M or M grit Imptoam
lenffie wonderfSly).
And while 1 wee In the boapUal lest winter I realfy
^oycd 400 si'll misod with my eocoa, erblla MO cril
ooaa vary well mixod haU-and«half wiSi (be flour
whan mjilcins siavy But diere la OCM form Of K I
can't itmd— aoupetonc in coOea— In epjta of tht way
the ipaat'Oroepectore lap It up (1 have haard that moat
of them SOI ihe habit by running lumpt of It through
thalr cofCe* milU along with die coffee beana. to aave
tima In oamp) . You ace. some of the amino*aelda In
the seupatone combine with the eeflaina to form thoae
odd-taating esters.
And tnany concratulatlons on your Improving tone,
which 1 like very much, parttculwy the last Issue. 1
can take my ituota ol thud-and-blunder Uka a little
mm, but I don’t eara for stories In whldi Ihe leaders
of an advenced civilization ponUAcala at Icngdi. but
sound very much Uka a aecond-raia author trying u>
svork in another two hundred words. It la almoM as
raving aa the esumpdon that naturally the hlstorlanf
of the future will pick out IMI AJk at the atandard
of eocn^rlaoji svtth thalc own Uma— why, no one bul
Again. conEiatulatlonj (rcea aa original Wonder
Blc^m ntCn—nn It Oek Swwel. Wamsal. flllaoW.
SoiDa of our factual fnanda an eoaUnually asoarsu
at the peoaueee od eclenev tfiaae days, Vfe uy to tell
them that Science FIcunn In all maga had mapped out
atom bomba and ]al planes eboul twenty vMrt ago
but do you ksiow. they wont believe 117 Ttmnks for
lUlsnltig. anrid. give us e bigger magealne. or a
^<^*1 guartmty or lituc sosiia fansoua books la our
pries nngc.— Dtxte Anpon rerm. Sfctppcrs, Vfrptnia.
Well, Doris, you’ve got your kdgger nuiga*
^no at any rate. And the various fantasy
publishers are doing a whale of a job at
getting out classica at comparaUvoly modest
prices ($3.00 per book Is standard).
Also, in view of what Ues ahead in this
column, we appreciate your appreciation of
the Bud Gregory opera. Ihey seem to have
stirred up a lot of orthodox souls who stescl-
fastly rehise to believe any man can Bx an
egg beater unless he has at least an I.C.S.
degree in mecbanicel engineering. They
should see what some of you girls can do
with a hairpin.
Best to you and to the ANGORA RABBIT
MAGAZINE. (Miss Duncan is Associate Edi-
tor— ED.).
irSALONCWJND
by Joseph de Cells
Somehow, out of that welter of crud. we
get the impression that you relish Oona sod
Jick alinost as much as ourselves — end we've
been dying over them hsppily since the first
O&J epos crossed our desk some >vwm>h« ggo
For your col^ee, we beg to suggest s certain
form of silicon known as glass. Very tasty
when ground and insarled in the bottom ^
the cup — also In applesauce.
So 1948 AJJ. Is no year of destiny to you
Well, Joe, it ain’t over yet
SHE LIKES THEM BUILT
by Doris Duncan
Dear Ed: Thl* U my Am tiy at braaklog loia prtol
• — ,. j — Tpto meak, m uauaUy I — “ ' —
■Kclvai all ib« evtn
— ' Fabruary imu« of TWS uopalj n
_ J « «hort blurb, beginnins with the front covt..
which U ona of the first in ■ toim Ume to ba raallitic.
aad. If you nlca s*n>lemRi will to^ at your owu
— —j ,. 1 — • — , pij^bly won't
■ muns physicsl c
logical aaMcts and parhaca mor
' '“-la lyra of thing It ...
rr man that I Uka tha Bud Creeory
iheuld road this lyi
bcediiig. Olhc-
stoiiaa. moitly
him dor— *-
you hava be cac make It work, and It you ne^ c...
oartaln kind tio can uatiaUv maka It lot you. Bul be
raada icience fletlan end uvea back here aaray from
dvIUsailon and w* all lauab al the rael of tbo worid
and aralt for It to tear Itarif up.
r aocneibtu baaldia what the i^lt look Ilka
. - ._e Ulustraaout for U
ika girla an tha aoven o
mwt otalaca aspect of rc
(and the aaioc U true in o
Qbg'
dag can become patterMd.
Tbina Is no orimoalily ir
r thlngii ■■ Ustcnlni b
nnw that,
niuahta
vamUons •uecvssCul, and if they are Uif^ous anougb.
wa call them original- In aclance-Acflon, the vam*
Ilona have loat Ihair covering of orlgltiallty and aland
barv and revealed aa rMeUUon.
I an writing panlcularty of oontecaporaiy aclenc^
ScUoa slorica. by sudi hackneyed wnlars **--
of rr
d IHilton Croaa. Periiaia It
d And
.ea, I l^ore the itortea. feeling that 1 ahalj
mim nothing, knowing that these storiaa tuve all been
wHttaci many Omea betore-
Ihe UiuatraUona repel me, too. for to me a draartns
and Its accompanjdng story are lirevecabiy linkad, and
u the drawing is tome muastd -19 piece of Iraati. 1
feel that the Mory shares In the ignominy. 1 have read
enough ol thase atories. en pnaaiDt. to be certain that
my analyals la true. I know (hat aelanec>Actloa, even
through Its moat svalle ezponenU, ean not vie with
khe magnlAeeni literature of the world, wUh the aulo-
blograpnical novels of Idarcel ProusL the time>Alled
novels of Thomas Wolfe, or the perfection of Giqr de
Maupoaaant's ihon aterlee.
Probably you are now wondering why 1 read It. 1
read It bc^uae I lllra ih But 1 have no llliubme about
It- It la iirwortant only for Its ueeantatloD of ideas;
ft tea beast of nothing elM. And becauat there art ao
many pnearioua schtaoirfifanlca in the world seeking
caeapo Into fantaq'. it baa Insulted Iham, producing
wane for Uiatr reeding, without thought <u quality.
a uaiiUly, uuantily. Is iia war cry. The very Ihougbl of
1 Ihe crouching man of adcnce-Aetloa ttorlea waiting
to davoor ut burla me Into an angulab and a trenay.
What ahall 1 read? 1 err- What ahall I leave? Wbal
will I • -
128
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
ttorr a
tioa? 1
Wltlch nmtndB me. you are qulle witty In your enll-
pbonab iB the nauer'e departraaoL i euppOM you
either have to set ansry or gel wttly. and the lattar
li tool* nUona). One mon peraeoel oNomtnt: In «Ma
people reedinp tttle may think mo OP old map. I am
twenQr-one yowo old.
CHd you know that an oocsalona) edenoe-flstlon
r finds IIS elegant way Into ‘Ria New Yotkct ms9>
I? The last ona was ealltd "Tbs Decline of Sport.'’
I parable about the delarleralion cd sport in the fu-
ture- CenfidanUanv It was hoirtblc. So apperantly,
Idenot flcuon is tootally ^glbla in tbs bluest go>
MMsI
Whst U sll thia diasendun about Lovacraft? Love-
sraft must hsvc something people like; ha Is virtually
the only legem) to survive from the llteratura of tho
macabre, or supemstural, or fantaiUe. He It about the
•ole writer of Uic weird 1 would Include with the bast
wriieia— WlllUm Hops Hodgson.
1 In tubes.
laugh mora at our sdence-acdon thi
bonrpr is|^ ^ 'hit maans^ t
a v^ume of hIs stories sttiuitng I
opinions please amte me a few letters.
I have been dspreclstlng sdsnea-Bctton, I
Als— f collect It ’ *-• ' '
Well, we mi^t as well start at the begin-
ning and rip through — after having to endure
auch a ripping through of ourselves, We
quite agree, however, with Mr. de Cells
rMson for writing. It is about time et cetera,
et cetera.
As for Joe’s lugbriousness over lack of
oiiglRdll^ — whst does be expect? We oas
only repeat a suggestion made in this col-
umn more than once, we believe, that he
look up a translation from the French (very
erudite Indeed) entitled, THE THIRTY-SIX
POSSIBLE DRAMATIC SITUATIONS, The
book was primarily baaed on an exhaustive
study of the ancient Greek dramatisu and
is still regarded as an up-to-date fob.
The point is that only about a quarter of
tht limited tbirty-ax can be used by a
modam author in play or story form. The
others, having to do with incest and otiier
objactionable themes, are strictly tabu to-
day. So what can a writer seek but local
and character variations and twists upon the
hoai-y themes — or maybe, If ha comes up
lucky, sn occanonal awitch? It’s tough going
and if Joe is an author himself he should
know it.
As for the authors be dislikes — well, that’s
his own opinion. Personally, we find Mrs.
St Clair far from hackneyed and Wellman,
along with Messrs. Smith, Hamilton and
Cross, has written a good deal of Interesting
and even provocative fiction — much of it
for These pages.
We'll skip the illustrations for the aonee
and concentrate on the the three literary
titans he next mentions. We always thought
Marcel Proust was sinqily the name of the
author who symbolized culture in Qana
Tunney after he passed his pug-Shakespaar-
ean era — something a little naif for naif
folk to belabor their brains with. Da
Maupassant was definitely a minor master
in spots, but Thomas Wolfe was never a
novelist at all If a novel is supposed to be
fiction to qualify, He merely wrote unbear-
ably spat^ate historical novels about his
own life.
As for your lament against quantity— well
we wouldn’t last long if we sought (ha same
literary-tea, parlor-pink level of advanced
thought which belongs only in the so-called
“little” magazines. At that, we probably get
away with more in the way of uninhibited
ideas and ideals anent everything from
acolology to nuclear physics than any other
olass of popular maga/ine. Frankly, bub.
we wonder If you have yet attained your
majority after reading this self-consciously
tortureti lament of yours. Better seek an
adult philosophy.
Thanks for accusing us of ev^ occaalanal
wit — we only wish It were so. And thanks
for the note on stf in our esteemed rival
But stf in upper circles is really nothing
new— nor has it been for centuries, from the
legend of Daedalus through Gilbert and
Sullivan and Dunsany and the like to —
well, the current IT IS GREENER THAN
YOU THINK.
Anent Lovecraft, see Eddy’s letter and
our comments thereon. And hoata la
Spengler — to say nothing of Nietzsche — ^smur-
self.
EAST CREEN8USH RIDES ACAI N
by Marion “Astra” Zimmer
Omt Ultor; Ov«r th« hoUdayt I h*v<
D r»*d the rebrueo’ TWS and catch up
.._j ... -- .r.wrritin8 which nu 1
round Ume
fire i^oe the ‘nuuikislvltts holidajii.
The ftril thing which hlta my ey«k-
HITB— there U a very vlotaat Unpect— la Ute cover.
’• — — •'•'I yeer. After the beautiful »jtb*
coves, hi>w 70 U could go beoK to
fri«3i
BEUa and danatU la b
A* for the etortee, hew . ... . .
alaoet none— to make. I am going to adapt my friend.
Dueny'e Braan'i eyetem ot rating In nuQa. Thie la a
niUl *. Oely. being "Aatra". I'm aolng to call iheni
"Aaue-Uka'' like Uua. *. Ooa aatra-isk la louay. Two
la lalriari. Three la good and four awell ktote thaa
that perteoL
TRE SLXZFBB IS A KZBEL: 8svm Wei-
lon. tor ray money, la the best writer to oil your
pagM since Xvuner submitted hit Orel. While Ihte
yam wun't tha b«t Wattm eculd do. rtill it left
me with e swell feeling. Th» characters — asua^tly
Cana, the hunchback— ware exccllsnt, rtiarply dtfinea.
Ula poetry la ■KOtllenC.
SKVXN TEMPORABT MOONS ’ TUa wia tbe
THE READER SPEAKS
1M
sctlltd d
IT W 1 >IP
- - ^1. nbveS
Biory 1 vlnoenly hoM that
a GOOD LONG REST. I'm
TRANSORANIC • • •
forever. Multiply ihoaa .
power ana you'll have sc
Opinion of Hamlliao. How the cceetor at C^pttln
Future could turn out suah beautiful, beautiful yanu
ae COME HOME FROM EARTH and this laiot. will
sever foU to surprise me. Tl.cie ate tliuae wbo caU
Hamilton a back, bul believe me, 111 elwcy* be amond
tha ones who rave over Ed. Sallaeiml
9(> much for ttia Iona ststies. The shorts were all
Aort and sweet THE DOBRIDVST ntas aheut • « •
other work, wTiy ?old her to fhU Ihlrtlett-.-^tuty
CLAUDIA AND DAVID aet-up?
THE SHARE U»' vuiiu.rv: .1 ™.1.«
THE LONG WAY BACK has a distinet ftavor. Oh,
about * ■ Why in EVERY wreck, do the two who are
saved HAVE to be a man and a Eltl? A special dls-
§Se before.**and far better. Gr iT i' c rl l^y*n^ have
two ^rls reacued for e i^npe? Or two men’ Or a—
the element which looks for love jnlaret
have yur old gal-guy element.! Only I'm
I would like to take a
HU V
man Kb
SAJtTKOQUAKX.
STORM. And his hatolnea — JannlBaa,
—are far superior to the dream-Uke, t
we think you’ll enjoy the full length novel In
the September STARTLING, WHAT MAD
UNIVERSE by Fredrlc Brown. There la a
novel tnailu for the revelry of fana es well
as everyone else. And Kuttner has another
novel, a true Hall-of-Famer for future
reference, entitled THE TIME AXIS, due to
appear in a later STARTUNQ. WUl that
hold you? It should.
TITAN OF THE JINGLE
by Paul Anderson
An editor, brilliant and bold.
•cuffed at Utoae etonas ol old.
Of monaten who ere^
s went alons for him fl
one tent him a line
^?WOȣkN OF the' WOOD. 'Kultoer. alio,' la ve^f
tile. Rla characters hve. breathe, vibrate. You alrnont
see them. The writing. In places, is sheer poetry. If
anytl^ more eeHe lhan CALL HIM DEMON has
ever beM written, I hone 1 may have the fortune to
radjl. Even "DRACULA" failed lo cUlI me as did
ft even sur]»ssed DWELL-
. .1 resembled In many
w.v». VALLEY OF THX FLAME had the dnest scene
In tantsay literature I thou^t; Raft's imprltonmeat
by the living swamu. His scene with the mad king
rcDUnded me of a dmllar scene In SHIF OF IBHTAH
only far more neatly handled.
happen to R
I dani
cel)— 87« Windsor
Medea
-F THE
LORD or THE
Concerning the way monstera dine.
So be read those ten ^rlc words a^a^^'
He was dinner that night.
And they've eaten him. qultol
The last words he beard were, "Don’t crowdi"
Dear Bdltor, take my
ror you knew what w
Wh«i they squeak In i
TbtoUng lur Is a lark
(Yog Solhotb. Please si
Avs.. Berupn, Hi.
Bdeotnifiply pfckldd in brine
With u pic’s fool 1 thought to call thme
We wait, dearest Paul, having given our
for Yog Sotkoth to «il down and dine.
CHARTERED CHARTERISES
by Thomas Milistead
couia prefer Kenton nr even ijwayanu lo Uanelon or
Brian Baft stwuTd b* locked up. Only Larry O'Keefe
ever touched a Kuttner here In scope What a pit y
Mid Merritt n
vhlch Kuttner excei e
But I could reve oi
Iw tor'molher Kt^
(1. East Greenbvsh, I
II night about Kuttner.
Ob. please — Isn't It a'
un-length fontaeUc?— B.
0 study, discuss, aqd ii
Well, you parlially restore our faith in
oureelvee, Marion, not 'to mention our ditto
in those who type our screeds. Re Kuttner
— by this tline you will have read Kuttner's
grand novel. THE MARK OF CIRCE, in the
May SS. His next appeerance will be in the
Hall of Fame of the July SS with WHEN
TOE EARTH LIVED, which also rates the
cover.
Our own October TWS, however, will have
a fine lead short rovel along lines you should
•njoy, MOONFIRE, by Leigh Brackett, And
prrslcn that
those got^ old swashbuckling days ) What matten li
n hIs knees, sobbing and slovering In
^'our column editor we the Ira
u ars a nice sort of genl^^loke and
we Iiaie vu uurt you, but. to be bnitfllly frank, old
our chapeau Is doffed to any editor who pubudiea a
Saint story, and you may feel free In hop Into your
nirondel snytixoc and foto one of our slimulBiing
Kvenfually we plan our oreanlration to lie on a
peraUe) with the Baker Street In-egulare, fur suiely
Uv* Sa&il la u alive, If not much livelier, and will re-
main 111 the memories of Ihoxe who know him as long,
If not longer, Cum ShenocK Holmes. Among tha
luminaries In the UBMII is the Patriarch hinnself,
LMlia Charterlf. (Or, as Mr. Russell Harold Roodman
would have It — Leslie Charles Bowyer Lin. Actually, II
Is Yin, bul no matter bow you say it he’s illD a grwi
180
THRILLING WONDER STORIES
Al th* momwt w* sr« In th« monumantal
Ulk ot catklogulng and writing a deacrlptlva leni^a
«t>aut «very character in die Solnl Bag*, and have
proJeeU In mind lor tb» tutur«. We would be
deUshud to hear from any Clutrlerls teadera who
would Ilk* tnor* tnlormstlon or who would Juet like
to exchange pleanatnea, U the; wUl write to_l^
loUowlng addrew ; — 733 Lathrop Avenue, Rodne. Wle-
eontin.
We’re still slovertng, Scribe Thomns, but
wish you end the Upper Berkeley Mews
Haloes ell the beatifical luck In the two
worlds — ^thls sphere of atom- tom reality and
that brighter globe through which Simon
Templer so recklessly and fecklessly strides.
THE FUTURE IS NOW!
by Idella Purnell
old toy read ^u?aV VerM’s*A *raJp'^1ro*TH£TliSw
Wa can imaclne him talking it ov«r with hla fathar.
"Pop. do^u suppw someday a guy'll really be able
^"^ell, Sammy? you'd bettM do your homework now
and put that aturf out ol your head, If men ever fly
to the moon It’ll probably be so far In the future you'll
^ai a gradt
i Callfoml
future didn't look that far awayl He studied astronomy
..a And In 19Si. whan Samuel Herrick
_ ;e student in astronomy at the University
mla, he *began seriously studying navlgoUoa -
not as applied to the ocean and Its currents, but si
applied lb space 1
And now Dr. Samuel Herrick Is giving the first
course In rocket navlgaaon to be oflered to any uni-
versity In the wvid I The successful development of
Jet-propulslon at California Institute of Technology
and the Nazis' succcsaful use ef rockets has brought
that future that Utile Sammy would not live long
Dr. Herrick Is sure that rocket travel Is a matter of
^It ■
! no tr^ed railroaders and yst.
m a rew years, our cuuutry furnlstjed all that were
needed, so he Is sure that, when the first rocket sl^s
become available, the pilots too wiu be ready. His
Interest Is not in rocket travel across the surface of the
earth, but In such travel from the point of view of
astronomy when the ah1p has begun to escBoe out
air drag and Is Into space.
For successful pUodng a sure knowledge of the
movements of the heavenly bodies as well --
theory of motion will be nerfed. The pilot rc
■tout the gravHstlonal attractions of the sun ans moun
and air perturbation.
At present there are only seven students in Dr. Het-
rick'S unique class. Three are Interested In rocket
ejigineering, two wwil to use Uie knowledge gained Ir
a of the
It know
rick pin:
>g that If
I demand for it will grow as rocket
travel uecuines a closer and closer reality. He U olso
wilting a book about his unusual subject.
The future is aowl— 321 Colt GroRdvteui, gterra
MadTS. roU/ornlo.
Okay, all you would-be hot rocket pilots—
there's a chance to leara a little something
of how to get around up there.’ It Robert
Hebilein proves correct in his prediction
that space travel is but from five to fifteen
years aWay, now would be a good time to
start getting eager noses close to the right
printed pages — and watching problems un-
fold on the right blackboards. Nextl
AN AYE FOR AN AYE
by George 0. Smith
TWS reardmg humor. I agrea heartily and applaud
loudly, ulfs would hardly be worth Uving It ws
couldn’t get a snort out of somelhlngi and it Is well
knowB that the safety-valve that keeps a lot of people
from the looney locker is the happy faculty of seeing
something rather amusing or ridiculous In their own
tight situation.
^ nuwwer. It does obtain Ihat humor In sclsnvs (IcUon
lusa ihe average guy who
kuch pet Is lacking in any
vrriters I know *e rather
wlUii^ to^ go along wlh
bells the ..
sense of humor. Most ef
emuslng fellers and all
a Joj™. I'vjS even known - ,
knew It^wril enough to It oft — and t^e joke
Ihete seem to be Two kinds of fans as far as humor
or no-humor goes In sdenca fiction. One kind Is
responsible for the storm of letters objecting 1o the
trcatmsil of any serious subject (such as space filAt
Apparently they do not like to be Id^tlfied wl% bemg
'* — .1.-- -,,j„ jg feeling. I say
it any reader who Is truly
who Is holding oft the villain with a ray-gun whilst
supporting me Bergey Sweetnms on one ann.
The other kind of fan objects to the fact that all
too few truly humorous yams ever hit science fiction
— and then, when a lulu comes along that has ’em
rollli^^ln ^ they I^lte msd while read-
toe doomed clvlIlsatJon et al,
This la the reason tor a lack el science notion humor.
No writer really ILkee to see his stuif running In the
lower brackets of opinion. He knows that any humor-
ous treatment will get him the post-war eouivalent of
a jug of fiat Xeno, prrierably with a dead fly to It
Krgn he rtays awny from It.
I do not have a hat but I'll buy o
of t
: bit 0
writing Instead of either Ignoring It or damning it.
After all, we are only trying
reader would like to see — heeausa
■- — ' It back at us with a
there would
unless we '
kindly note
and Cheion
Phiiadslphio, Psnnsvlvanto.
Keep reading!. George, old lad, you may
have to buy that homburg yet. But get a
load of what rnme.s next.
TAKING ISSUE
by Rick Sneary
Dear Editor: I here with take Issue with you on
g iur editorial. 1 feel 1 have a right, as 1 was one or
OS who disagreed with you to ihe first place, and
thus brought It on.
First of all I still do not like Exit the Professor, end
same way. But for the love of science-fiction not
becouse it was funny, My mad, I didn't even know
that It was supposed to be funny.
I Ilk# hummoT In etf. And you liave ptuitert a lot
of funney .rititf yniirself that was good, ‘'The Iralated
People", "Garentoe”. "Donkeys to Boldplai". Just in
the lost year. And 1hare was the dc Camp funtaiy
All good clean fun. I don't remember oft hand, hut I
thinfc the other fans liked them. I did, But then
’ ing this thing. The story Itself Ispoor. Thi
:uTuus. leaUier Ulan humorous, what I ask
tukh at In the story, Vou laugh et the odd
Bogboiis. Thus you are laugtilug at
ery much like the Uttla dog you ipedta
D'eeks, and
I to ''Donkeys to Boldplat" c
THE READER SPEAKS
131
Uni of
bocMuutMefull —
t^l on lb* floor or Ibiow ih* num out. 1 — ■
•on* one you like stlnki. But Just becouN i tew tin>
iread ou your loei li no reason to go editorial about
It. You apear to take the atan that ai you Ilka tt and
think II funny we should think so to. No one will
question you Hght lo think so. but by George I woof
have a stoxy oramed down my jgulet.
You are the adllar, and you toiow best 111 admit
you were rlafat and I was wrona about 8t Clatr.
I But of course yeu could read nories ahead, and her
warsi ctuS was used BrsL> But when co maoer leade
(hey don't like eomeihing. Uke the Gregory
least ' '
Ca.lt' tfaii/omio.
rhy do you go eh»d 'a . ..
r ge out on s limb defending It. Some o
' — — • — *• gtre
Okey, RJck, ea usual you're e tough man
to argue with. But we still think the Hogbens
are so appalliiigly and horribly fantastic
that any “laughing at freaks'' is dl^ng
pretty far for an objuctluu. And we were
using that one story only as the first example
to come to hand in a very real protest
against what was beginning to look Uke a
solid core of fan stuffed-shlrtlam (we never
intended wittingly or otherwiae, to Include
yeu In (he category. Rick).
However, your protest against our protest
was weU taken even though it bespoke a cer-
tain element of the very thing we struck out
at And, to conclude, we don't 80 know best.
We only try to figui-e things as best we can.
send the stuiT to the printer and than close
our eyes, shuddering and waiting for the
bombs to start falling.
THAT MONSTER FLY?
by Wilkie Conner
rffisc
(• pen In
weU kid*
poer «
Be en f
Dear EdUor: Well, having c
February TW5, Includlne the ad
head to compooo a mlnlvs. i'ty _
and an equally (Well wife will i
en ough for me lo apply tho necow . .
Coneerrtlng your edJlorlal notes about humor In
— notion: I boertliy ogreo with you. I pity the
ho cannot appreedats humor. There have
t few humorlola in tho fantasy and atf
r loo tew humorUts or toe few edltbri
woo woum lake a ehanoo on publlihlng tight alortM.
Several well-known professional authors with whom
1 have eorrmonded have ahown an amatlng ablllly to
write rido-QUttlng leUsn. Yet their atorlei are umally
along tha mbar themes. To me this la proof they feu
Iht urge to tetigh, but when they wrfla (or pnmiea
Initaad of fun. Ija eituaUon baoamea aerleua. I onjoy
wrioua llUfaturr aa well at anyone. But I Uka to
Henry Suttner’i Hopbn yarn was a nipme
axamiila of the type of bamor itf needs. I was sur-
prised to see aoine people chased it as "]uok." Those
people are proliahly nnee who listen to the sobbing
soep operas c*
about
chil-
dren or Uncle Sid's ^neral or who read Lovecraft 0
Poe’s trsflo erlai lo dear. deimrlAd Uenore.
They ate people who read the lobby "comiof" about
little nryhan ^lldren being buried In the snow or gel
a big kick from the oWt cotonmi of tbs(r n—— “
Truly. It would be r --
luu of tboir Brwipapen.
d indeed if one oouJdD't
lead. 'Way back
hi^ sdraol, do
* 9 .
Whan 1 was a
le 10 mink or tt. I am no longer a
tally when I read so many lelten
( un entering college or fuel out of
Ml Uke an old lose. Yet 1 am only
le who now write lellcri
young are gelling more
av vy. Here and now, I go oh
younger aeneratioo deftrUlaly
#r twenty-five. Truly.
ioi^ as satdng*
I't ioliig to poll
: Uked John Bairett'a "The Long Way Back"
ck" bsttor
pie for K
It bt poesl-
. think eo.
was nice. too. Incidmtally. could BairM be Kuttnar
with whltksrsf Bradbury's "Bhape of Tbinss’' was niM
too. Almost tied with 'Tba Long Way Beck." "The
Dobridust" wasn't half bad either. In fast. It was
darned hard to decide Just which wu the bed of the
The shorts thU Issue outclaMisd the novels. Yet. aU
three novelets were extremely fine. Could It bi
ble that Ibis issue was Ufo-v good?
every story, every pic. axeepUonsllj good: can ir oa
ppsslblt for soother Issue to equal this ooe (Inddenl-
aily. I've asked oiyseU that quasUon after reading the
last tour Issues. Always the nest Issue was tupwor
Was this the last "Bud Olefoiy" rteiyl Uurfrea
promleed him he wouldn't cnll on him for any more
gadgati— that hs’d invented the gadget to end all
aadgsla. If this it lha lest one. I hem the demand for
nil retuni wlU be so great rilzgersld will have to do
a Sarah Ramhardt and miks many last appearances.
(Wltti B^. la. I know Flu win be asek many
tlmasl)
Art CosUag writes a darned IntcUlgent letter. He
seams to know the machaalos of the writing trode
well. Could be maybe he'd write a yam or two - .
huhi Bet 1m could. That’s all from fhts end—
Bo« mi. West Gastonia. H. C.
Good stuff, Wllkia. Evidently you have
wife and children well broken. 'Hiat monsler
fly Is getting into our aoup — but then, this
Issue is already paas4, praide Allah. Your
oonunent onent the anti-humorists suited us
perfectly.
Barrett is Barrett, not Kuttner — and he
wrote a nice story. WUh he'd tee off on
some more fiction. We could use it. Tlie
SEVEN MOONS thing is tbe last of the
Gregory stories to dale and no more are
planned at present, But Fitzgerald and THE
DEVIL OF EAST LUPTON, VERMONT are
sUil around. Okay?
AFTER MY LAUGHTER . . .
by Rojeo E. Wright
Dear etr: Mu*l ws wavp Ihs mors? Musi ws shed
loan for our contemplation of a better tomorrows
Must we say that laughter is to bs oonflnad to the
whimsy and satire of hntasyl Musi we ssy that the
dignity and vfsloxi of Sci««ics Fletlon does not allow
Utat greater dl^ty. that greeleet htxnan value, which
te the abUln to face all the backbone. decorariOAe
and faults el oneself and tsuah at them?
Rolenre fiction It aiippnsefl In deal with that ever
axtsUng elcmmit of chsnga In our environment. Only
at long ns mnn n>n Uiish can he meet that ritange
for the stiff collar wilts In tha rain and a wise man
laughs at all lha stunltnssa of the stiff collar and
pula on e thin raincoat.
* It Science Flctl.m but not deadly
THRILLINO WONDER iTORIES
poUtosf. if ifrlaui. bnl w* life
but S«t lha
i.
diknHfr be w2m. Let £e dTanc^ fuUen Ut pefrli
«f ^l^phy Bd flMB ttand bMk ntd Me wmomt
io bftu^ ar Ic ttrtnf. them Leufhler sdmite of eeror
and error U tbundsnt but error It never error tmleet
It be overlooluCI or found too late,
It would be wen If Kiittner and hit Hogbeot were
eedv tha prelude to more and greater humor t^Mklad
taWrtaiwr PlcUon. It would be well If you vreuld let
QM Bud Qretorvt >■><■«*> and eUo Ihe Lorde of the
ttetm,— Ilf t. Boe ZM. gpmpjlcld. Orepon.
Well — and 8KBln, toell.' How swanllke
Roeco! Blit we have avoided maahed potatoeg
like the plague since, upon gaining an adoles-
cent voice in family circles, we convinced
pur parents that w« were Ured to death of
that old Sunday dinner Qomblnation, roast
chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and iced
cream and. with the cook's backing, effected
a Great Change to roast beef. Yorkshire
pudding and any decent vegetable from egg-
plant through artichokes to aspai'agus (In
season).
We are also a trifla perturbed over your
free use of the fruit of the oyster — namely
the pearl as philosophically applied— and
especially by certain among authors. But
basically, despite their intistence upon suck-
ling pig over seafood, we are in hearty agree-
ment with your Andings.
Wa have now talked ourselves Into a
drooling condition and zmiat take time out
for lun^
PO’BUDf
by Sob Shea
Deer Edilor; I will net Swell on Ihe point but nottt-
nelTo
Okay, Bob, a nice letter. But if nothing
can make you happier titan to see the above
tai print we fear you may be Io for a rather
drab existence henceforth. Come now— there
are other pleasures.
- We repeat— that was the last of the
Gregory yams or the last projected to data.
Poor old Bud— what a beating some of you
have been giving him! As for the fanart
oontest, what subjects would you suggest?
We And ourselves at a loes.
ATOM IS ALL
by Erich K. Zeger
7 Unis of TWS.
r Bud Grsigory
eontrsdieti hii own itorv — hU chsractert *r< mads aa
of atom! the gania ai everything elaa In Che univerte.
Mow could the etoms In thslj' oodlse ^rink so wnali
Bi lo paia through another " ” - . ■
would have
•uca a mp posetbis another somra)
axampls In loglca proves^
^1 Du^nal is oompwd of atoms.
Ail alocna arc oompeae d of a'
* material.
inAotte
than th« -
> flight axertton o
I ta peas through
in iha ni^icft fnedoB of'a «
3 the BcUva tan
Oeapltc Ihe eriUelcm that Bud Otaserv has some in
for Uiely I rnloyed THE SEVTO TEMFOnARY
UOOlfB. I hops, hewovet. that this will be the last ot
tbs pcrias, yiizgerald Is a good writer but avan the
best Ideas san be overworked, so get hiss to turn hta
(alsola to SonethlBg alae
In tha letter column a projected fanart contest came
tn for s liri of favorable mention f oan understand
how your past exp^enect were enough to sour you
popular Idea. If you were to limit eonteat draw*
U10 to one subject you ou^t to gel at least cne or
two good jpsolmsns. Give it a whirl
nneJIy. I would UKe to com pllmept you on the
no# Job you. as edllor oi TWS and SS. are doing
ahlnlng examples of the best to Selcncc'
iC Beaattf Arenue. Keui York 93. K. Y
With 0
t can see Ihli
I diaracters w .
_. jnallest frset/on _ ..
^hlloeopbar tn the story, broke the ivducUnn lever
smaUett fraction of an bid) with hitcratellsr drive,
roucli loss Interplanetary drive as was used In Ibe
*^or Instaitee. compare an elom with our eolsr
systam, then imagltve a reduction machine which oould
Instantly shrink s man to proportionate stss on tn
elscinm (planet l as he would be on Earth, An acstst-
and olt as fast as tils hands could move even to bring
beeauw during that teeand thousands ot years would
have passed on tlie electron.
If luint’s idee of a curved spaee la True, then (hers
could be no such thing as a straigtii line, which would
make the science of seorns’ry lust so much wtsied
time
I think. In yrert lo come, that tome great mtflhema-
tielan will prove UnateUi's Theory of BelalIvtiy wrung
as other '’fact** rtiaortea have been proved wrong to
the past-
Af Jemu said nur Creator hat no beguinlng and no
r d. who am I, or snycine else, to argtl* <h* polrrt,
prefer to believe The Creator and^all Cneatloa^f
otherwUe.— lUJ El Comtao Bso^.' (on Maffo.
TSSf' ■
Well, we aren’t going to argue with the
Creator but we have a medium-sized bone
to pick with you, Brich. You seem to have
«iJoyed tearing an interesttng If highly
imaginary and problematical theory, as pro-
jected ably by Mr. Barrett In our February
laaue, to electrons.
THE READER SPEAKS
But, sinoe th« whole atomic theory ia con-
stantly undergoing change via new methoda
and tools of nuclear research your example
In logics may well be no more than a syl-
logism, a la Lewis Cairoll'a Snark and
Boojum. Because, tf all material la composed
of something otlier than atoms (or any least
particles of same) then your universe may
be neither material nor tnUnlte.
It is all reminiscent of that ancient wheeze
about Aristotle saying that all Greeks are
liars — disproved instantly because Aristotle
.was a Greek and therefore a liar himself —
which In turn makes all (Sreeks not liars.
The same goes for geometry. Applied to a
certain set of conditions, geometry is a highly
useful stunt If not a science. But, applied
10 other conditions, It falls to make sense at
adl. Ask any nuclear physicist bow much
geometry has helped him.
But what the beck — it^s fun trying to
figure it and so was Mr, Barrett’s yam.
Those who attack fiction with fact are making
Don Quixote look like a supreme logician
when he assailed the windmills.
LITTLE TIN DEKER
by Charles 0. Simms ETMS
.Mifr
Pwi.
And It depend*
the deadly radUtloo and V
tfae a^ty cd efo^lb
becOTf abeeiPed ltd* wty
that thia would te a good dafirio.- ...
~ ' Urea tBa noty tnnaed or mwelr leadlDg
rt It,
quantum
ahowerroom, and dUUs down to a rood ola horae
cooked meal aerved by my own tpeeiai dandoa SUI
—t^M (It tf nice (o think about, ain’t it iboufri
—tuhl
miir a
"Tronoinmle" did nnt m
"W orld Brakai" Hamlltoo.
S"&‘
Af for Aatarlta. though
a, adar that pie on nsea
the comic books.
Otar Ed.: My ailence la bcokao at laal (not that
cnybody esraa). the lait few Isuaa of T.WB. have bem
m tooc that I tun havi te add my two cents. Tak* the
ShonifirT U. for esasiple.
Pint of all. tha cover. Oad, no bama tor bow many
monthc aewt At lean Om bind that only a atf arttat
can dream up. The glinl fly ia batUlag todts
exactly Uha— a xlanl fly. And meat atnartns of alL
the frwt cover pic llltutrates a part of the alory looll
The lead atory takes the number one ipot (tala
month. "The Staapar ti A Rebel" la me of tha best yet
on the post atomic world and beyond.
It la foWniUns to note Ota stadual chauaf in th*
them* ol rtf atorlea In the few yeare. "TSJ>.R."
may b« iakwi at an anmple Hera I) team that action
lakaa a lupplemtntary podtloB
Mterlwtlon end th- -*• — -
No oo* think of the ~how~ to do enylhlna b
•nymore. but the "what" erould happen If ■I”
In OtKcr'j poatuon. Thus It eeeonea easy to i
with the atory and It la ttet a tto-type Dakar paredlns
ssroaa ttie pagaa. but yon. yotireaif, who li taelnB tha
> future world, the ^ast Uae,
i...n_ j lorins tha beautlfal
t of "aewt". iMlead of
It you cm
Iwe raet of the slorlaa were STcmce. Uuniah Bn
bury'i 'tbe Shape of Thlngi" oasia out with a plot
that hasn't bean worked over too much.
The lliustratione by Lawmoe for "The Bleeper Is A
Rebel’ wen really out of this world. For my moony.
ha'a got the poal-war Vlrfll Finlay beat a mlla Hcoa
and more of aim, and what ever happened (a Schom-
burs and Wewot And Anton York lArthur Leo
Zagatl and Capn. Future and Gene Hunter and hla
E lec ios clipped edsoa and I’m bcsathleeall (But I'll
e back).— C-OltHelon USS. KvereoU DO-7».
e/o ricel Poai Otle*. San oUgo. CaUforTtle.
Okay, so Deker wasn’t a tinsmith's product
after all — thanks. We go for those black-
and-white tiles and the dancing gal, however.
Thanks for the generally favorable oomment
in spite of mention of thst — .'I%o fly oo
the cov«-.
Sebomburg Is currently engaged in other
types of art work he seems to be fonder of
doing than etf. Wesso has dropped out of
sight as tar as our art depai’tment knowa.
Arthur Ijco Zagat had the April lead novel in
TWS, as well aa a novelet in the May SS and
is currently turning out stf and detective
stories with his prewar piolificlty. He did
a terrific fob for the O.WX during the war.
which probably accounts for your not seeing
hie name around for some time.
Captain Future has been suspended since
1943 and the last ol the novels, RED SUN
OF DANGER, sbout Curt Newton and the
Futuremen, ran, we believe, in tha December,
1946, SS or thereabouts. Gene Hunter ^laan't
been perming many letters of late. Guess he
gave up on his clipped edges, soy w« in
clipped accents.
BEE-YOOTIFULI
by Ed Famkam
t this stam soma discussion
to rate then as foUjwi.
1*1 Plaea. nu aLsKPKB IS A SEBBb— WALTON.
Walton has an ncsilent Idsa han for ths whola
worldk troubte*. It mlaht be th* acunv^ m. ts what
Now for a turnabout. I thoushl that ths eld "blood
•ad thunder" storlM were tuit about extinct, until
cams "Tbs Long Way Bsok". Not that 1 doai Uks a
good ilaai-bang space adventun, but thUIl To Quota:
"XvldcuPr thara'a sums aort of a maa* dteatpatar con-
Motad wltli tbU, I don't know how ll aroika" and I
eould add. "but ws preas this button and all of our
Itoublsa arc over". Alee. "We'll dliintesrate bite «
Jo do artth tha amrid’i troubi# mslicr* snTr
Than, psnisps, wt might bare peace at lest. Wt euedit
idminteter Nirvana to cvecy Commls and tondgn
of our poUne'
: In my beautiful bUDk-and-wl
A fsreast of what may face Amarioa In tha tuturef
That la to say. a torecaat ol a aunjlar tsagh problam—
If Amarloe d osan'l keep alertf Could be. & >d PteM.
THX SEVEN TEMPORABT MOONS— nTZaEBAZ^
TIae for Snd Place
Such a thing U quite possible, as wluvaaa Iht 'fiylns
dteoi." Did atiyon* ever find out what they were*
I bellava tiiey ware called Fhrlng Pla-platM?
WhaVa wrona with tha Gtesory seilaat OlUXtM
M0RS//I
THE SHAPE or THINGS— BRADBURY.
134
THSnXING WONDESt STORIES
4 Plao*. And dOD-
It •mack* ot tajtMOi and
Sana It 1 llkad ttll
Ho« about more by Bndburrnt
•m«_pOBKmUST— ST CLAIK _ .
4lh race. Wish I bad a do<funny Uka It Would
aava me a lot ot work. Maraaret la comlnj) alone Sna.
The DOBHIDUST was even belter than her lart
tiJMJBIS MORS);i
Stb Place. THE LONQ WAY BACK— BAJUtm.
WUh Barren would explain bow that ebitid worked
in Ibat atofy. I'd pul a uiield around tba whole bonaa
and tun It on wban I aaw my tootber-ln-law eomln t
tor one ot her "•liorl vlalu" that uaually last about
S monthi. (Ah mail
THE RKAD£K SQUEAKS— Editor. WOWII
B^t ot the whole leniall Ut had my laltar In It
teell) Enjoyed eiu the lailcra in It and there are many
mtiti potn& too many to dlwuaa, brouibt iq> h> dUs
Gwua. You didn't answer my queatian about Captain
ruturti You are probably quite rlj^t about my lack
of linaalnaUen. Shall read a taw tuitartro and aae U
that's why I don't like 'em. Whar did ya And all than
lhai Bta Worda, like mpp-peea-riahnul an' paaudot
WhhIel Ed. you Ml me daown aomc tbnaall
Thanfca tor a SWIU. loue. ine.. tbe cover, wot on
nrih tor off It) la that thtna the Gal bM on? Rar
nlehtaown?? Bar(«y-«lnchoo (Ot any heart a-taUT
TA poor aai iooke <o coUl/ How could Vt—IJM Cael
Mth Sircel. CMcopo 15. illlnoia.
WALL-EYED WEBER
by Willy Webdf
Thanh you.
Let ul make a t caat, Uara'a
more frequent TWS. Mot that
wuwerq that and. but It heipe ua uuiu out
— J I«k Mortheoer. SeelUa i.
loaaf^Td
imlvarae aijd you want to know kow U got
bigger than tka universe. As for us, we
read ’em as they come and like (or don't
like) 'em the same way.
TAKING A BEATING
by Bleine R. Desmond
Dear Editor. The February 18<8 Isnie watn’l up to
' " — ee. I hope thle doaen'l al(nUy a bad
Even ID, however, the Untie
norla aa they are m Cbc
unforlunilely, die
— — — e regrettable, ae It
the feature noval, The action seemad to drag
all through and. although the dialogue and general
wrlUna ware well-hattdTed. I found mvsaU on Ihe
verge ot falling asleep Mveral tlmea. The whole etmy
teeated rather draem-Uke. eiUi all those fraaJH run-
ning around and the general Imprawlon at the and
was one of ■allsfacUon — whereas, throughout tlie yam,
one was given the feeling of depreiuon . . . happl-
naaa was achieved with too much rapidity, It reems to
year. It probably daam't.
V... Taking I*—
pooreet story L
We’ll send you a ‘dobridust just as soon
as that marvelous gadget gets on the market
Mrs. St Clair, of course, had an advance
showing. But aren’t you a little rough on
malcontents and the like, not to menlloa your
mother-in-law?.
We hope slie reads It
The Seeen Temporary SIooiu was about average,
illghtly better iben the other Oregon et^ca Per-
— -Uv. fm not loo aorry to see the hin-blUy tanltu
... none of the yama struck me too favorably. I
injoyed this last one. however. It did eaaen a linie
preposterous, the ease with which the two Intrepid
Bsross saved earth. And why didn't Flolgerald veil
Kamllu . _
Med. If he sat down and typed, with
• "Ing the
rhy didn't Flolgen
nory u be
of doing fiis wuiBe. of wrltlng'tKe worse atorv ever.
It would coins out good. Tranruranis was the best
atory la the lieue. Watt an Idea It bad. of an clement
■ ... ....... beautifully handled
riaa you have carried.
rhe Dobridust, by MIm St, Clair was guuil ennuMi
— * ' - ■ 1 . Tfia
t type but I
< lata I
— eha bad to wrlla
to make me do that. That alofy had two vtrlkaa on tl
when II atartad just beesuM ^ wrote tt.
The bast in the ladbe was "Tranauianic.' The
writing end the Idea behind tt were both good. But
tho) what alM can you expect with Hamilton writing
One Ihtata worried me a trthe In "Tba Long Way
Back." If ihe ^ce ship reduced tlarlf in flat unoi
It was back at tU original volume, the ship must have
reacted a point where li was as large ai the unlvena.
Where did they put Ihe thing whan It waa that alze?
ne atams must have been tbe eiae ot our galaxy
WlW) I'd have been aimmd to tee H.
I. NmI I
. They had
? tha name, at le^ print It a little
' prlodna II plainer 1 don't maan
toot II down a b l^^^ ke^flie UUa
i all white? How about another d^ik?
r Ihe b
few loose ends Incapable of being tied.
— ..... ..... „
wat d^p^lnted m^Bay Bradbury's The Skapa of
tbiAffa or^-
TMnpi. - ...
I like Ray, I feel 1 must ny tha
unwonted. Out of the ordinary. Or
narily wouldn't coroa out dial way.
nean. Judglnj by
ItauTOUe waiting for her “pyramid' .. .
' should be blamed, ot eourael
Polly ws
o be cha
.. . . jael It m
mUnt exisUng li
Both of them saemed too
foolish to me. the way Horn _ ,
tn. offering them dienk*. and he, a cube, amokiag a
pipe, etc nether pointleie, I thought. Sightly below
bit.
Hssiry KuTlner pan ruu
eodlng, where Reese ci..jia.uwv v
their smallness.
It was a very logical explanation about space I
curved and everything bMng flnlta end drcular.
a path through tub-aiomis partleloa Ah Indeed,
wee a good rfory. Wall-written. Ma. 1?ie Hide
that waa In It was handled nicely Coogretulate '
tett" for me.
lUy-k
- etesy? Is Barrett a
liked enecially the
bcFW they eecaped
ton.
Why don’t you and Erldh Zeger get togeth-
er amd have it out with elide rules at dfty
paces over poor BbitsU’s story. You aassn
to hkve hit It from opposite ends of the
cosmos. He wants to know how the ship
got smaller than the smallest thing in Ihe
Oh, well, we can't fool all of you all of
&e tine. But wa're still in there trying.
THE READER SPEAKS
REQUEST FROM A LADY MUCH-MALIGNED EARLE
by ^ro^hy M. McCrafic by JtmM E. Hamilton Jr.
to iw Inio m> own penonal Ubnry
'/Wv In ib« Ihal s<an*ont iBn;. .
<ep7 to mU. It** impos^U for cm to )Mv«
vW b« • -■ -- -- •
inUfrJy. . ..
y » I MB wrltlna
' Ji'swsi;
iADKR SPEAKS to to full of Infanilc
_ .. .t ridieulout. Tho m»«4 InlnlUptnC loltar
I bava mad in any mafjriwn bowaver. wax Uvat
Litton by C ^bb^ in th« r«bruniy TW8.
■ine* 1 road your itorias for puro tn<analan«til 1
flo not tori ctanpotout Ui advUa oc any chnuiien.
TWS li alwayi ontrrulnment.— ItTI Main Stnct. Han*
aon, U«a*arA«Mtu.
W« hop* tiuit the running of your letter
in this ooIuiRD bean the awaited fruit
Doroth>'. Odds are it will — ^£or fandom, we
have learned, is generous in answer to re-
quests from honest lovers of stf and the
bnlastic. We reread Tibbetts’ letter just
now ourselves and found it almost as reread-
able as Merritt himself — or Henry Kuttner.
SUGAR CONCENTRATE
by Prsnktin M. Diets Jr.
Dear Idlior: I want
fwofilxb you dtd In st
W ^Mruary, 1
> cc^panttoto yc
|l WU POT^Mt
u u v«Il In Uw
I yau t want w tay tbat
b TWa and M, censidar*
wfaro. Jutt aatp up Uia
A. fCInea Park. Lo^
It looks like a good year from where we're
sitting too, Franklin. We'll do our unamai-
gamaled beet to keep you haj^y.
GOOD LUCK FROM JOBURC
by Louis Kruger
Dear sir: 1 navs ]un pmom a na4«r oi yaur
nasaain* <TWS> aad am findlns It laeat ttterwfins,
<wlaln.y aunwltilna dUTarenl froia Uw uauiO TOD of
book* on* raids today. So far I have MPieUUy liked
on* Story by Htniy Kunur and look ferwart to
nedlns men of hi* atuH.
I woeld. howeret. like aama of yeut raadsn to writ*
to me tram dilTnant pom nf <b« worM w M to talk ow- —
tb* diSerant stories ws llks «* dMlte. Her* Is wbh-
Ins yew atMaaln* all ilu luck to Um wacid— S* Mill,
bourn* Itoia; Srrrant. ioksnasAerp. Seva AfHea
Hope we got the address right as your
writing was none to clear. Louis. But if we
didn't and you don't hoar from other of our
reader*, writs us again and well strel^ten
it out. We keva had e number of letters
from your part of the world In reqpnt Usuas,
so here's hoping you connect ss hoped.
n art crIUc 1 will let tht ploa put. axcapt for a
zsw ward* ibout Earl* brgay. I hav* aald this befor*
and I raltmte, Earls B*rc«y la a frwt. but much-
Now on to ^ steriu -
Slm. THE SLBTPgB la
Walton by any chance on
auuy reulnda me of vuac -
u aWORO OF TOMOBSOW sod THE POWER A...
THE OLORT
THE SEVEN TEMPORARY MOONS, by Fll 2 «erald
U WU bound to bapp«n. Al Isil Fitzgerald hu wrlttan
a good Btory. 1 didn't ear* for tha flrat thrsa storiM
of mil ssrlsi. bul ‘here wu Kmettilng about this on*
that got me. For Iho fizil timi Bud Gregory aeemed
real to me, possibly becauie I wouldn't worlc. either,
If someone would pay mi ten dollars a day for doing
nolblng.
TRANBURAMC by Edmond Hamilton, Good but
EdmoBd has done batter, notably STAR OF LIFE
This on* rather temlndi me of OeoK* O. Smith's
QUABANTOne in the last Issue.
THE DOBRIDUST, by St. Clair- This girl gets better
with svonr story. Keep them coming.
THE SHAPE OF imiOS by BradWy. Ordlnaitly
1 don't ear* for Bradbury, because Ms ptol* are loo
deep for ma but this la one I can undcnitsDd Very
good.
THE LONG WAT BACK by Barrett. Poorest Hory
In th« Ima but still far above son* things you've
publl^^ In the past. Goc^,
Ajm Out teems to cover the aubject pretty Uiorou^'
ly, I hope, tVho la Itls Banclt person, anywayf
And. If It b not too cmbarraalngly persraal a sub-
ject. cow does ooe go about craMilng your maga " '*
— Harttotolc. Hate ToHi.
Okay, Jam«. Bergay probably won’t
bleep a wink for a month after your un-
foUcitetl dufeiiae. Nu, Waiton is an extremely
well known stf wtriter in hla own right and
Is in no way, shape nor fowji o pseudonym
for Kuttner.
Well, at any rate you were with Rud
Gregory at the finish. We liked his last
story beat too. Barrett is a new writer, that's
all, at any rate new to us. So you want to
get in too?
You won't suffer for trying. How? First
you lliink up a good story (no comments
from th* balcony, please!). Tlien you type it
on regular whlta typewriter paper, uslixg
double xpacing and good wide margins, then
you «end H In to THE EDITOR. THRIL.
LING WONDER STORIES. Suite No. 1400.
10 East 40th Street, New York 16, N.Y.
Then, If by any chance we don’t s»id it
whistling back to you by carrier pigeon
express (always include a self-adrosed en-
velope with sufficient postage) you may find
that you've made a sale! Slntple, isn't it? As
long as you’ve got a good story, tlial is.
’RAY FOR RAY!
by P, R. Naugle
Dear Hr: Re: Feb tame TWS.
A r«Hd Miene* ftoltoo fuv for ounr yean, and a
reader e( TVS
Mmcniulele T - .
riihaa ef Kv Bradbury, wbom
p »a m t q a a Uv a a«nius ““
la pact
nrUidrt]
sphere) y^"df»ceverrd.
Ax aor futun time. Aould you Include In tftbv
_ , ^ _ _ ml(^t urell
duirge one dollor per eopy — end 1 would be Arsi In
Etna at the newsttand. money In hand.— Sl< — 2nd uid
Cherry 0<dUI«p, SeaRle 4, wethinttm.
We don’t dare, dam it! And this in spite
of your hot little fist, complete with ready
WHAT S THIS?
by Roger Hawes
Dear Ed.: My conunanlt on tba Frb. lah. are at
rollowi
Rnhl Rahl and double Rali> TKe Sleeper la a Rebel'
TTanauranic and The I«t» Way Back.
Prwll Urpll end Phitlftinil The Dobridust; Tbe
Ssape ^Jl ^dnp. and tbe Seven Tooporary Moooa.
t like Bryce Walton's Idea ot cusprndad animation
Hamllloiu’ Tnmturanie I> Mnaatlona)l^ rtew.^ m _ray
two. T am moved to Wroix Revenndi st every decree . . . and dytnc thua
- Geld ol around m every day'" Now I don't expect anythinc
M (he on (hal level. But a little mere emoUati eertalBly
wouldn't harm the xtoriea. Nov — the Uluctradena:
Bergey’t better, Stqaheru' trrteus. NopoU no. Morvy
monairotu. Vlnlay venontout or Finlay fr.ah:enli». a>
you may wish to say. No comment eo TRs. 306 stWM
Aoeauc. San Antonio, rezoa
theory of
: Merritt.
t^nlo
I.OCU Way Back supports a
ntase. PuMy for John Bam
Praseort. Ariaxw.
Bully and enwy and sleery for you, my
brackish friend. Hereafter we’re ch^tening
you “Old Middle Ground” Hawes. Get oS
that fence!
PIPE THE MIKE
by Michael Wigodsky
masstro, please.
TUK LONG WAV BACK Is Ineenlou
I'm puttin* 1 • . - -
bsse^ o
have been produ^ try the Mmple emotiau} device
^ a croup M Ul-assorted pe^le on a space-ship lor a
Iona trip. This Is lust an example. For anothtr. take
OlMen'i BT.y.AK HOTTilK, one af the coldest and mool
uhrmotlonal books of ScUon ever writicn.
wKj,( rvakea thla lSMi)i a elaasle IS (bat anajoaUcally
r Jo- "Des»d. mlloni.
' hlabnoa. Dead, Hlcht Beraressds and
In regard to your suggested ending to
Walton’s novel, Mike, may we suggest, aa
have several of our writer-iimers, that you
put yourself in the hero’s place — in goue
ending, that Is. Crawl into that Jungle under
a nice small stone and stay there!
You may have storied something with
your plea for emotion— although Ye ED
has what amounts to a violent phobia againat
death seenea emotionally projected Those
he has witnessed in life have been ^ther
straight repulsive grotesquely and ahame-
fuUy funny. Dying is about the most un-
dignified thing a human being ever does.
But maybe we can add a jot or two more
of emotion to certain rather dry tales with-
out including a fiock of fluttering Little Evas
rising to meet the cardboard angels hung
from the proscenium arch on wires. Let’s
have more talk on this point
ANOTHER MAD RANDOLPH
by Billy Lee Randolph
Dear Editor: Tou hear aaiin from
. WhllM tr
DMr sir: You didn't publish my ltdtcrl I wrote you
• nice kme letter and pniLird the miMnaine ell ovar
ihc place' And you didn’t pttot it! Co to Ptoorl In
Uir Mine of all (brae Sml'K-,. cr. to Pl'«ri
Welt, the rcb. lame. TMZ SLEEPER IS A REBEL
psetifn-tdenre elmospherr in the su»~-nded-animsllon
machine than most of the type, which rely on eome
mystrrlous ray. I object to the endinc. whleti was
toaUiSily apUmifllc. Dencr would be a eUcAl
fiahta
people relapse into barbartant whom h
more thro the wnun norma they form-
aitx In the wlldern^ walling for I
e o( Hamilton's
cnouvh description,
THE DOBRimTST ler't nulte up In (he etanitnrd of
such <la*»l<3 as ALKPH PLUS ONE t «rPOl WHOST.
trs ebnot ae nn^ at THK SnWA BACKS Ihoush.
THE StAPB OP THINGS It about Bradbury's
. at It a^n.
Pirst I worn to cempliinent you tx
addrm ao prompUy. There w
arrival of my two mass.
The lllet ter this issue were all wonderfuL Amaalne.
lin t Itl Bui always there Is ime pic that nobody likes.
I wonder which one U will be this time. Speakins for
the little cliche of on. myself and 1. there was do
putrid Uhuirauon. iWE ol counr. axa excellent
ertacs. hsmiB read 0>e TRS before.)
BUTI Let us pause. Ah hah I I Lhoucht you were
wins to pul aometUnfi over on us aulUble renders.
The cover! That la where the discard Is, (Pardon
whilst 1 look at IL) It has die eternal ttiansie a; ' '
1 Ihoukht 1 left (eometry in tbe elaas-room
sa). nouL Very weu. I ll accept Ihu tame, b
time I'll get mad. and then won't the pages t
Now we see— ble, hie — Bad regory. He stenia to be
learning that when the perfesscr comes asklitg for
another invention, be needs it bad. Or. Murfree
' ' three timec and only threatened
on learning my nrw
o delay at aD in ttie
once. My. nyi
Hamilton anf
can't 'spell theli
^be letten. i
Bradbury were good of eearso. but I
names, so we’ll just keep h. I mesn,
I usul, were inane, silly rod full of
lieiil Bullock fuss^at Snea^ for taking up all the
t^ve. She should know ^that being active In fandsn
tnvalvea mon lhaa writing to a few mags. £■» .VumiIi
do many other things, Uke Join cluba. «
fans. ooUeot niass, r"* "" " ' —
thing like that.
The book review
ADdMra betler. I always did 1
We wouldn't do a thing like that, hooey.
But perk up your epelUng or you get the
■ treatment next time.
HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THE
DOBRIDUST
by Technical Sergeant John W. Patch
35038030
Dear Sir trtry t»atj itt the Februarr laaue ol TWS
was enjoyabSa. Etmi Clair's "OoMduft" Rowmr.
1 enjoyed ‘'Pytolii»«~ dUcOy Weaua* It oSste such a
ooed chance to att Is taw (ood "dip".
lotaeine a pdasC ttaall eoggpi la hold la your
handTlncorporallaa afl Oat quaUdn that St. Clair gave
Iba Debrldustt It dona tta tnn-.w«U. maybe, but It
alas rteosnixca eleas wall tiuui dliiy walll Quite a
Bitk. Lat a see. that would requite an uialyits <d
■eme physical or chaiileal didarence batween the
tunace d a ditty wan ma that at a cM«n one.
Not Imposalbie. but flw Ufa idts are coSnf to take
Then Oie daiag *bwiped *0(0/
shlnfeM Wfc^ m we .... .. —
when It had (
And Iheplot— U aiB' Dsfsar bwel ni bumbles along
deinr all tn« wrong chinp. huS everelhlng comes out
fine In the end. Yeah. I fc aew. you’re go'
me 1 '
Impi^blc people.
• day*,
in tU. U an
e Ihat extra*
, rxs;
w B^'iiourirblng li wdiltdiH^eor^aeiias I believe
Hial bH fina an oeBgbted i
crewse In stt book puWWk~ ~
But. so lar. oearlr aB
been reprints ot fiM.il
novels or anIhetogSes of i
for the fan that J ae w i'l haee gioir slerlei already Is
his callectiDO of old BMcufewe. But pretty socn the
fans are golt^ to get tired el peytng out pod money
for stories Ulej'vc rtwd before. The book publishers
had better start puttUc cut ptevloue^ un*pubHehed
slufl!— do. e. Ill AF^. CfUa FMU. Fla.
There is only otte hitch in that scheme.
Seigeani PalcK Most of the better stf, like
most other fiction aimed at popular markets,
has seen magazine publication before it ap-
peared between board& Profits from a book
are less certain and almost invariably smaller
than those paid by magazine editors. So
authors, being human. usuaUy try to hit
hotb fields.
However, tliere is still a vast backlog of
pseudo-scientific and fantastic writing of
wortli which is not well known to current
stf readers. So the peril Is not quite as
imminent as you think. Otherwise, thanks
(Turn pdge]
To People
who want to write
but can^t get started
Do you have that constant urge to write
but the fear that a beginner hasn't a
chance? Then listen to what the former
editor of Liberty said on- this subject?
h aen room for noa’c on w M in rfio wrilMg Sold
do^ay <San mr bt/arwk Soma ol th» tnatau al WMtno
mm and wotiwn Sara pMawf Irm tho tcono in ward
rmn. ^ uto (hair oltmf Who wfll ba fha >ww
«o&aff W. Chmbon. BIMr Walloco, JMyaid KlglbUf
foam, rioAaa and cAa h i pp t n m t ol aeWarsnanf awafi (Ka
■ rreman of pawar."
SIUS FIRST STORY
AT 60
“3incm t am arowrffag ihraaarora. my
bt laiiog the NJji. ooctraa
Jettfh Wagawna. It wM immadlalafy
aecapfad. gnsocoaged, 7 wmo afhtn.
Oor Nory accepfod Ham ami aaiad
tor mero. All thanka fo A’J.A."—
Alban ir. Nlaourt, 1937 But SUrar
Slraat, T'acaai, Aiiaaim.
Writina AptHiida Test— FREEI
TT 5 * Aniartc* e««* a e«* W(4»-
X k« Aptituda TWb It* abjacx la to dwxmr now ramdu
fee ^a army ^ mao and ammao who add to tk rlr liMacn#
^ «<^ aad arttda wnHag. Tho Writing Aplituda Taae
ll a alinyl* but expart analyalf of yoor laieat abilHy. year
l»i»ar* ol taa«iiiatfoD, Io(^ oie. Not all appUcanU paaa
JAla teat. Thoia who do iro qtaUiftad to take the famou*
N. 1. A, cowl# ba^ on the oraefieal training glvan by
bl| matnpoUtan daillea, * '
Thli ii tba Maw York Copy Daric liethod which taodiei
you to inlla by wriife*. You davalop root mdrauhtal *Mo
oipy Uiat of otbora. “ ’• - •
PorHu gat, Althoagh'‘^pu’‘wark at
htaw. on yoor own tima, you aro coo-
ataaUy foldad by aziiariincod wrttwa.
it If really {aadstthig work. Bach
week you aaa new procraw. In a mat-
tar M montha you can acqulro tha
cmalad “profeadonhl’' Much. Thai
C u'ra ready for markat wllh gramtlj
provaa chaaoaa of maUng aUaa,
UoH the Cei^aa Vowr
But tba firat «sp ia to taka the Wricinc
Aptiluda Tasb It mquiraa bat a few
EnoMiea and eoata noUdng, So ■»-*' tho
coup oai BOW. Make die fhvt novo
towarda tfaa moat aojoyabla and profit-
able e c tup a lJ oo — writing for pidrtkw-
tlsnl Naw apap ar lonituto of America.
Obo Park Xeanse, Mew York IS, N. Y.
(Foundod IMS)
<1#
n \wti
I gbeot*
Kewayapar Inatltata of Amtrie*
OM Park Ava„ Maw York 1«, N. T.
— ad me. wjiboot eoat or lAIigatloft. ymn*
WnttRK Aotilfldt Twt «wd fnrthar I'nfi I WI 11 a
s}'
Alin
•boot writtar te proSb
l^pyrlSid Talgl Rmwpopa* rnaillrre'eT/Wlriw." " " *
for an liiteUtgent if tomewhat vitriolic letter
If Sl Clair said there was (or will be) a
dobridtMt. we’d rather take her word for it
than put ourselves through the self-torture
that seems to have been your lot
SAY IT IN SHORTHAND
by Andrew Gregg
I mil fwUns Clu^Dnu spirit
Ui« Februsrr tscus.
rrMorr? To hall wlUi Bud Grexor^l
b bt'd stop s8Tine Uk woUd Inun
tiles won* UtBD death and iuct let It dlel Al Uds nle
we'll ba're to eleet htan the non peceidtnl- The best
thins about that rtsrr was Finlay's UluMraUon. srhlcb
- - — ‘ 'or Flnl-
I*^go^a^itle‘easy
AU bail Bud Gn
But «
t win be GOOEl'
~ " ras wonder-
LT I told you
musiniUon for "The Lons Way Badt"
full nie rover was out of this world, but I
where, you'd probably stab xne with a L ,
Bere'i a BEU mat's recosniaable as a ny' The dame Is
rocofnUable as a female, and the whole thins catches
the eye. but that's all.
d whet
y with n
thoush. ]‘m not cornpaiing Bergi
paHns him with himself Ue o
before. Farnham's letter save me
over seven feet, or over *4 of thi. .. .., _ .
writer to my 1st story, which the edllni
. I'm e
■ )uft a smell ceuectloa.
SnV
Poems llki
! got one of the important
ide a mlsulie In trying to
much, 111 admit but «
BIAtt
ya&l
Adam was a poor a
THE TWS smiATlON
^cturet PlniW's^^a lot
The tipieslUfi are all walHnf.
But wbo Um h— bes sot a ^t?
Are you saltsAed now? I guesa fee tornllen all
about that flist sentence, but that's all riifbt. I'm sorry.
I'm soery the maaasdne was so erumrsyl I'ln done
BOW. you con so back to reading a letici wrtttai by
•OBe yM siat snD be ravUtg about your mag.—
m fCoBlos Tlreet, ChippeiM Polls, IPliipcmsIis.
Oh, Andrcu>, with rejection sZtpt
Sliitnfl out for tales returned yem
Writer of proee that truIi/ dr^s
Why btte the hand that spumed you?
If you must torite you such a screed
In lieu of a report and
Tear us limb from limb then we’d
Sugpett you use Cngg ihortkand.
ON THE GRID
by Lynn Stanley Cheney
Dar Coacb- Just tbought that X would drop you a
tew lines about tout last teasoo. three vl fieri es smd
three defeats. The vietones were paced by exceUoit
nauing and passittg bul tumbling cost you three
fuses. Now let's get on to the games:
"The Sleeper Is a Rebel" 10 touchdowns arored by
■mx — — „ '■naaliln* victory.
*' " 1 toudtdowh IfOT the
fullback Wall
the Ides of Etrlnf^g
iUpa Tbev stretched
way Crom my type-
ind 111 be adding to'L . .
Maybe I can get a friend of mine to show you a
few sam;le pictures. Just the kind you like, consist-
Ins of • idri runntng around waving s ray gun and
beins chased by a BEM
"The Sleeper Is a Rebel" was good. It was a Utile
newer then most at your stories. TTiere didn't seem to
be anything there to eatwe a controveny. It was Jon
good, ibsi'a alt
"Tranauranlc" was tolerable, but the Idea of creating
or finding new life is ton old At least, no one, aa far
as 1 know, hss used new elements to start it.
'The DobrUtust" obvlou^y fit your set reuulrumenls
by being rejected by every other scSeirec mag b) the
"The Shape of Things" la good, bul Bradbury ean
do better Just so it Isn't anydring like "Tha trriutrd
‘The long Way Back" was one of the best stories
I've ever read and bv far the best In this issue! Thla
may surprise these numerous riraraetns the! think the
icngest story must be tbe best-
Poetiy Us "The Boeder Speaks" would be nice. Whv
don't you ever have any- 1 saw som - —
eras separated into stsiua*. 1 read i
the sink. Who's this Douglai«< n
Gertrude Stein too much He g
lyi AfMtber vlctofyl Star Half-
back BamJlton scored at will. 8 touchdowns to be sure.
"Tbe Dobrldust" Oh tbe eru^ng misery of it am
You must have let the B s^nd play Ibis one. 2S touch-
downs FOR THE OPPOSmONI
"Tbe Sbaps of ThJnga" AU-Amerlran quarterback
Bradbury gave a good account of hlmsetf in this one
S tou^dowut for our side.
"The Ltng Way Back" Oh my aching badkl (half
T there that
ke ttiat Just sound nice In a primitive way
auixpoaed to nvike senue The way 1 Cguic
e to write poetry yourself, an you urge the
write It lust as you can comment in verse.
If that’s what you want. I'U try aocna
THE TClfFTA'nON OF ADAli
Hmmm—leL’s see. Water boy Cheney gives
us 10, 8 and 8 for a total of 26 touchdowns—
while the opposition scores 1, 25 and 3 for
29 of same. Hey! Scummo, that leaves us
three touchdowns to the bad. Ecod, how
could you? Oh, well, anything can happen
in these high-scoring contests.
We stiU think we’d have won if the referee
hadn't slapped all those penalties on us when
our backHeld idiift got oQ too quickly (the
boys were just a bit eager-beaver, don’t you
know?) and gave them two deep pass com-
pletioDs on interf^ence counts. But who
are we to beef? It's all iu the game.
SLIGHTLY BETTER SHOWING
by Dsn Mulcshy
Dear Bditor Having taccsedsd (at^lafll la setU^
fpir^ to write anoUicT on the current lasue of our
— !j. Thrilling c.—i—
On the whole tbe Issue
Ihoujih It rnntatned nothin. . .
Ideas of thr lead novel were all ri^t,
of writing didn't keep me entraooed
worth lesdiBg,
style
I suppoae "Trscsuranlc'' cotid be called an adventure
ttory of the oto type, but an adventure story liy
Harwlpn is well worth your atlenboD. Hit only peers
In die Held of adventure-fantasy me HCBry Kuttner,
Rog Fhlinps and. possibly. Hurray Leinster. When
are we going to get a novel by Kd (preferably in SB
tbe kmget lEe better) t
"The Beven Temporary Moono" wee i. ,
eny Bud Oragecy etory — you can take that ramark any
way you want. 1 etotila Uke •* — a-i— la a.
aomolhlns be^et BC. thou^.
~Tite Dobridust”— typical Uargaret SL Clair alMT
defl The Oona k Jick opera (plural of ]i
In eaaa enii couldn't jrour ^oOl MI1 b),0
ocm't aat me wrong— 1 ham
tbm ^weliihty pleti"-^ ;
once in a while.
"The Shape of ThlnKi"
onethef of the
- 1 teadlna you of late
— theufh "The Irrluted People" remalne my favorlle.
Keep prlntln^’csr -- — •*- -*
tma ihu euUior. ploeee.
Tlmow. rve read erery etocy In TWS t fi.
over ala monfha now— you've really come a lone
way since the dark days of '<£ * ‘4«. Let's bope you
can malnUla Ute itaiidaid you've eat for yourself.
_ Md^now— '^e RMder ^eaJea. Good thle time, fluid
of surprises. Oadi I never thouelit
see the day when the Kdller would feri rwnotse over
his unkind atatamenu ccwocminc IIPL. In feet. 1
craft-iaHiiig days ate g
Vm
SL. St. Louis, 1(0.
You set your Hamilton lead, THR VAL-
LEY OP CREATION. In ihe July SS. Danny
boy. And more St. CUlr, Fitzgerald (non-
CTkpa page]
tenVa 'a TTfoat i^nltriaiminf
Pulur.
Packed with fascinoting Photo Features!
0
NOW ON bALE-)5c AT ALL STANDS!
' 131
stop Getting Up Nights
TRY THIS FREE
If you got up many timea at sight doe to Irrita-
tion of Bladder or Urinary Tract, and have
never used PALMO TABLEITS we want you to
try them si our tick. We will send you a full-
Bize package from which you are to u«e 20
tableta FREE. If not delighted at the palliative
relief received, return the package and you owe
us nothing. We mean it. Send No Money. No
C.OJ). to pay. Write today and we will send
your PALMO TABLETS by return mail post-
jKtid. Address — H. D. POWERS CO., Dept,
629-M, Box 135, Battle Creek, Mich.
STTTDT AT HOMB for PEBSOTAL SITOCBSa
Dww Mnnlcd. AD <m< rmlSMd. But nt-
aMEIIICAR extehvoh'^ooi^ law
Refit and Tighten^
YOU ARE UNDER ARREST
Gre^rlan) and Bradbury, though we can't
at the moment speak for Barrett. As for
your next-to-last paragraph — when have we
ever been afraid to admit a mistake?
WHO’S A JERK?
by Tom Poce
firct .
i more U I pick It apert UiU way. So
e of the more InterexUng i«
Itc uasiBe of Merrin la U.. . .
ia the Ueetina between Senloo of KmakhUla ii.
Ship Of lahlHr-
But 1 atlU Ruilntain that Henrv Kuttner at ttla beat
iB even better than MerrUt at bis best) 1 have,
at you, Ed, received proieels from fans for tnyint
this, 1 r«apei;( Utelr opinions and eertalnly no one
other than Kuttner has earned a statement like Usat.
Dtit 1 think ft is true. 1 thlrik 3wotU Of Tutnoiiow Is
perhaps the best single piece HK has yet wrlttm,
TUxJt disuuUitWiii
MR.
ZYTZTZ
Goes to Mars
A Novel by NOEL LOOMIS
•
CLIMATE, INCORPORATED
A Noveier by WESLEY LONG
THE IONIAN CYCLE
A Novelet by WILLIAM TENN
MEMORY
A Novelet by THEODORE STURGEON
•^rwf othtr stories/
how <«■ he write >s much >o weUt
CharM DougUai' "Arehlc (pardon
letter t^ee the priz' '■ • " "• •
1 cimid n«B
Ubbicdy blbbledy
... diM reading before
)e Cd’a reply, blbbledy
ihF lettert— I. tor one.
about I.rovectaft I don't
'** etuif. thoiigh ibe
appreciate Mra. Eddy',
happen to like much oi uovecn
lalea In which he aimed more
lor sheer horror are exccUoil. Bui
the geitus of the man
Wallon's tiovcl la good, the best by ihu author yet
I renture. A iteat pauem of colors . . that's what
a fantasy ti to me. 1 think. leaQy. to colors, color
vlzuaUsstlon . hey. maybe I'm an artiatl The
dieeper It a Babel leavea a nke pettem In the mem*
ory. BHuhi color, the black o( . . . dioast that ia In*
beient In Civlllation's end. the strange swirling tints
and moods of the futures. . . .
* Poor old Pace, the etiys are saying. Cracking. Too
much gonk Juice, you know But aerloualy. I do think
In colors and plrUirca
way. Moods, tempers.
metnoev-asBodattena. .
Maybe ihat'a why the pax ao often set the mood for
me. why a rtnicy p«e can -make" a ahxy la any
liking. wlUcb iBt't qune fair, but there It la
I again like nttgCTsW't Orage^ I lore ndtifir
And I etui think FltagtriH la — aw. what's *« I
must be light, at yotiM ay aatthtng.
Trensurarile is a iMod Mctire at huasaa lanliwi a
ahen life, but not niiTtliriiiagl.r fo^ a a pictiae of
allenlty . . . thought that wm'l &e lotenOoe.
The Dobridusi drooped b a aw aew or two prevloui
St. Clair tales, and Barrctt'a story had better wrlttni
And BraSury d
inspiring True Picture-Stories of
. . ou auSof eritli attedn ol AstkcM end choke sad fan
for braath, If nstful sleep iadlfncntt becauseof tbeetrugiM
le breethe. don’t fell to send at once to the Pm utiei «-»■—-
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TisuaimU^-
Tbe iniepix were (ood. Sleplieiu'. FlnUyi*
It muM t« nler ’ “ — *
letter* tren mednien. U
I^ema* Crittenden Pare.
Your letter, Tom, is more than aomewhat
reminiscent of one of those rambling old
housee drawn by Charles Addama— and your
mind, if you’ll pardon the expression, like
an uncleaned artist's palette. Better scrounge
some linseed oil and a palette knife.
WOT— NO STORIES?
by Louis Lawrence Litwin
Dear Ed; Tile mas waa fine this Uh. except for Use
itories. Itiey arc rated as fallows:
Tbe Sleeper Ii A Rebel 4 rosea
Get Aboard the Freedom Train!
I tm an Americaa. A free Ansencan
Free <0 tpeali— oitbmf tear.
FrM to worship aiy own Cod,
Free to itand for what I think nght
Free to eppoM what I believe wron(,
Free to (heoio those who govern my country.
This hetirago of Freedom I pledge to upheld
far ntyseH and all nanhind.
142
reaci
Tb* Seven Tesporar; Heoiu rMce
Trenjuranie i Uly oi the veils;
The Lane We; Beck I dot. petunles
Tbs reel, <Un4lyUons
The keadsr Speaks waa excaflot The beet letter
eras b; Rex E Ward. OechMe lo Jstl Bullock lOT
Hevlns: enmieli eumptfon lo tell Snsei; a few things
II I were her t woun sajr It this wejr— Why don't you
accealuete the positive, ellmlnete the i^allve or
you win lum oul to be s Ilmulus."
The cover wss ewTul. but Ibe Insliie pics were Ane
That’B all. — IQtM Ayvn Aee iLes Aei^m*. Cali/omia.
Tieoiunnlc by HsmlUon. Good but Hidn't we
almost the fame story in the Dee, Im* { 1 ( had
exaoU; the aune plot, radio-active metal thflt waa
conuipoue and raust be osstroyed etei The uobr>c-ist
by Bt. Clair, casnmmir **Cute." The Shape of Thince
by Bradbury. Very good, maby.so beoauss >i was
unusual The Long Way Bock by Barrett, haelcMj'ad.
Don't get me wrong, your mag is much belter than
4 year ago but the past few months you've spoiled
js. We’re expecting tro much. However enmeth April.
us. We re expecting tr
comeili joy. cometn a
And that's enougb<~biit confidentially,
what’s a lirmilus?
■ HALY AND HEARTY
. by H. H. Hafy
Daar Ed* IBS ■ays 9ut KB's Oct- eover was a great
Ifnprovenxnt I Unk le too but whatever happened
lo our dear a/tial i ' i thi > month. His speedboat lor
rx_. — ■ — — — n snazzyer (— —
she didn t k»k wberc at
R. Brown's ahaarvaZionl.
Why. oh why. eont we
|oms, ]
Ur. ,
B of those Itsaeious
uav wm r !>: Who w (his ARnSTI Can’t And
hit aamt aW why rtol mere lellers like that from
Mr. ChatMs DotMtaW Ai«e why don't we take up
a eellectkai to piwrhaw poor anoai; a dictionary
( Is Klat Bwsack tupTr 'ww r i .
OS la Baa SsssWy UriAc torture — tales (fsnfsrel).
The S it iam h a Brtci. by Walton. An excellent
•eidlac. iimiidMl^ See real of the story- Poor Dekar
was In a na or was WaWen listening to a record ctf
610001; 8>aad*r wtssa he wrote lif Seven Teniponr;
** Tba ban Bud Gregory story
PS' TRS Is still the bmt part of your, or any mag. —
Bor So, i03. Fairfax, Califs
Good old H.H. — right in there with every
pitch. The illustrator for the pic on page
15 was Verne Stevens, natch. You should
know his style by now. Well, on the whole
thanks far the mutstve — especially the near-
imique punctuation. We haven't heard from
Douglass either, blast it.
And we're wrapped up and I'eady to roll
once more. Tliis. it seems to us, was a pretty
interesting session — with some good ideas,
some criticism both stveet and sour a la
Chinese spare ribs, even a dash or two of
philosophy. Only the doggerd was in E-flat
quantity. How about that, you-all7 So long
for awhile.
- THE EDITOR.
FREE
BOOK
|lv>s
SCIENCE EICTION
COOK REVIEW
T he science and fama^v book publishers
seem to liave been tagging for the past two
months, for Mr. van Vogl’< rnvel is the only
title received here. Bin Fantasy Press 'tas ceme
in with one of the most interesting yarns yet to
appear between boards in the recent revival.
The story, which Jumps from the very recent
past, apparently into ancient day', ultimately
turns out to be written about a future so distant
that Earth might, to all intents and piitpoaes.
an alien planet. Even ilte outlines of ocean
and continent, ctirrently familiar, have polletl a
complete switch upon themselves.
Science, as we know it, has all but vanhhwl.
Strange winged birds arc used for aerial trans-
portation and anini.'is vaguely reminiseem <f
die Dinny ridden by Allv Ciop in the comic strip
of that name are used for land transport. A
matriarchal bieracliy of p
calling the ancient
)f which Robert Gra
Hercules My Shipmate, r
ispects much like Aneirnt Egypt, rules with
rruelty, lr«chery and tremendous mental pow-
rrs of wercwclfian capacity.
Into ihi.i world is ea.'t Captain Peter Hnlroyd,
AUS, victim of a direct Nazi bomb hit in the
final days of World War II. Bafikd by his sur-
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, ^ fact that
i«''worthy captain
^that he is actually
^onlane, and that Peter
« inereiy another incarnation of his
^ result of his defeat by the Goddess-
„,«es9 Ineznia, usurper of his powers.
'6t spite of certain entirely explicable schfzo-
^ phrenic tendencies with which his daSl entity
plagues him, he ultimately, wijh the aid o£
L’oiiee, a sort of Goddess of Virtue and Un-
profane Love, discovers that he. as Ptath, has
arranged a series of safeguards against Ineznia
which she has not been able to overcome to at-
tain the complete rule she yearns for.
Tlifi big hitch is that while, as Ptath, he was
a sucker for.Iheznia, as Holroyd he is anything
but. Sj>^the contest becomes one in which
Inezjlla tries to get him to unwrap his traps bc-
-Ton Holroyd gains control of all of Ptath’s
great power and uses it irremediably against
her. Needless to say each of them gives the
other a run for the money.
A typically complex van Vogt thesis, it car-
ries the reader along well up to a climax of such
wholesale slaughter that the conflict becomes
meaningless in its own Gargantuauism. im-
personations, directed illusions, and double,
triple and quadruple crosses pop up in almost
every ch.apter.
From what we have read of Mr. van Vogt’s
work — and we have read a great deal — it seems
to us that this fondness for weaving a tapestry
of story tricks is the one itan that holds him
back from greatness. If he would hew to a
single, or at most a double, story line with
greater simplicity, allowing his undoubted
magic with words to operate under fewer plot
restrictions, he might well produce something
closely akin to literature.
As it is, he has written a fine, engrossing
fantasy which is packed with the magic such
stories all must have and so few do. THE
BOOK OF PTATH is a good job all around,
well printed and bound and illustrated by A. J.
Donnell iu highly decorative fashion — his Jacket
cover being close to superb.
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V 91 The Sea>Haws hy Rafael Sahaihu
P 94 The Mobtal StohM by PbyllU Boltome
p 102 Duel In Thb Sun by NJpep Butch
p 132 Seven Keys to Balspati
by Bari D. Biggers
10 Eau 40(b Sc.. New Y^
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» 63
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Sing A Song op Homyoiir by Jamet R. Laaghum
The Woman in the Pictube by Jolm August
Muzdee on the Yacht by Rufus King
Fatal Descent hy John Rhode & Carter Dickson
A Vaubty Op Weapons by Rufus King
Dividend on Death hy Brett HeJliday
CSucistE by Ben Ames Williams
I Wake up Sobaming by Step* Pisber
• 103 The Phantom Canoe hy William Byron A!©«>efy
• 104 Mesquite Jenkins, Tumbleweed hy C E. Mulford
• 1 14 Ramruo by Luke Short
• 118 The Flying D's Last Stand B. Al. Bnu’dr
• 119 fuastuiLKO by Tom cm
• 127 Paeadisb Trail by William Byron Mouerv
• 128 The Voice oe THE Pack
• 134 FiCHTlNc BIOOD hy Gordon Yosme
P 135 Law Rides the Range hy Walt Co«m»
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